Frequent marijuana use, binge drinking and mental health problems among undergraduates.
OBJECTIVE
In light of the rapidly changing legal status of marijuana in the U.S., there has been increased interest in the potentially adverse outcomes of heavy marijuana use among young persons. The goal of this study was to investigate frequent marijuana use among undergraduates, and its association with the use of illicit substances, mental health problems, and stress.


METHODS
Undergraduates from one university in the Northeast were surveyed using a questionnaire derived from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (N = 1,776). Logistic regression analyses were used to examine relationships between frequency of marijuana use and other substance use, binge drinking, negative consequences of drinking, mental health problems, and perceived stress. Analyses were adjusted for demographics differences such as gender, race, year in school, and sorority/fraternity membership.


RESULTS
Approximately 1 in 12 undergraduates (8.5%) reported using marijuana more than 10 days in the past month. Frequent marijuana use was associated with increased likelihood of other substance use and alcohol-related negative outcomes. Marijuana use was associated with increased reports of anxiety, and frequent use was associated with depression and substance use problems. Perceived stress was not associated with marijuana use.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings, indicating that frequent use is related to depression, other substance use and negative outcomes, contribute to our understanding of marijuana use among undergraduates. Given the relatively high prevalence of marijuana use among young persons, future studies should seek to uncover potentially causal relationships between frequent marijuana use and a variety of negative outcomes.
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Diana R
DR
Keith
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York.|Division on Substance Abuse, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York.|Institute for Research in African-American Studies, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Carl L
CL
Hart
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.|Alice! Health Promotion and Student Health Department, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Michael P
MP
McNeil
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York.|Psychology Department, Barnard College, New York, New York.
Rae
R
Silver
Department of Psychology, Queens College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), Flushing, New York.|Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Renee D
RD
Goodwin
D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult