Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research

1. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research Laurel Sharmer, PhD, MPH, CHES Roopa M Korni, MD State University of New York Potsdam

2. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research • Presentation Summary • What research was conducted • Why it was conducted • How it was conducted • Results of the research

3. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchThe Research Subject • Why was this research conducted? • Double digit increases in the prevalence of self-reported marijuana use among college students between 1993 and 1999.

4. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchIssues • The validity of self-reported behavior is always a limitation in survey research. • Validity is of even greater concern when the survey is probing illegal behavior. • Since marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, and its use a federal crime, surveys of marijuana use by college students conducted by those in positions of authority may wind up underreporting the prevalence of use by college students.

5. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research Methods • Honors Drug Studies Students at SUNY Potsdam • Quantitative Research in Spring 2002 • Qualitative Research in Spring 2003

6. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Methods • Survey Development • Survey Administration • Data Analysis • Report Writing • IRB Approval March, 2002

7. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Methods • Sample Selection • Tuesday/Thursday 11:00AM-12:15PM • 500 Students Enrolled in Sample • Professors Agreed

8. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Methods Survey Administration Informed consent Anonymous and voluntary Professors asked to leave the room

9. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results 313 students completed surveys Demographics matched the larger campus

10. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results • 50% were users • 55% of men and 45% of women • 68% had used at least once

11. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results (Users) • 63% had used in the last week • 11% reported “today” as last use • 40% used “always” or “sometimes” while working • 50% have gone to class high • 32% have taken a test while high

12. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results (Users) • 13% buy marijuana on campus • 25% have sold it themselves • 32% spend more than $100 a year on marijuana • 6% had been arrested or cited for use

13. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results

14. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results • Statistical Associations • No statistically significant associations between marijuana use and: • GPA • Age • Major • Year in school

15. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQuantitative Survey Results • Statistical Associations • Statistically significant associations between marijuana use and: • Greek membership • Cigarette smoking • Living off campus • Urban hometown • Parental use

16. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchLimitations - Quantitative Survey • Self reported behavior • 40% of students enrolled in the sample were not present during survey administration • Some students may have been high while completing the survey

17. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods • Qualitative Research Methods • Students developed a survey • Interviewed a convenience sample (n=22) • IRB Approval, March 2003

18. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods The survey questions

19. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods The Qualitative Survey Questions Do you smoke marijuana? If yes:How frequently? Why do you choose to use it? If no:Have you ever tried marijuana in the past? For never used:Why do you choose not to use it? For used in the past but not now:Why do you choose not to use it now?

20. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods The Qualitative Survey Questions “What are your thoughts on the debate about whether or not marijuana use affects the ability of students to perform well in class?”

21. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods The Qualitative Survey Questions “The issue of marijuana legalization involves many aspects, including decriminalization, medical marijuana, and programs that send users to drug treatment in lieu of incarceration. What is your opinion regarding this issue?”

22. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods The Qualitative Survey Questions “How much of an issue do you believe marijuana use is on this campus?”

23. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Methods The Qualitative Survey Questions “What do you believe are the effects of marijuana - both positive and negative?”

24. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative Results Selected Responses “As long as they’re not high while they’re in class, I don’t see why it’s a problem.” (User) “…marijuana hinders you from achieving your goals in life and I believe that it doesn’t help you to be constructive with your time. My family would be disappointed in me if I used it.” (Nonuser)

25. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative ResultsSelected Responses “…I don’t think they should legalize marijuana, cause if it’s easy to get then…. I don’t know, I mean it’s pretty easy to get now, like you can get it whenever you pretty much want.” (User) “Actually, I think it should be legal, because if it was legal then I don’t think a lot of people would do it.” (Nonuser)

26. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative ResultsSelected Responses “…sometimes it makes people concentrate better.” (User) “I’m just happy with the way my life is and I don’t want to depend on drugs to feel differently.” (Nonuser)

27. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative ResultsSelected Responses “I think people try to make it more of an issue than it actually is.” “I think that it’s probably not a huge problem…from what I’ve seen it’s not.” (User) “I think it’s a fairly large issue. I think the majority of students here use it.” (Nonuser)

28. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered ResearchQualitative ResultsSelected Responses “I would guess that about 10% of the student body uses marijuana at some point during the school year. I’ve seen ample evidence that it does affect performance.” (Professor) “Oh, a lot of people use it, but it’s not a huge issue.” (Occasional user)

29. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research • Issues: • Most users want the drug to remain illegal. • Most nonusers want the drug legalized. • Professors may underestimate the extent of use among students.

30. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research • Issues • What can explain research that shows negative cognitive effects from marijuana use, and this research that shows no statistical difference between marijuana use and GPA?

31. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research • Issues: • Most non-using students still respect student users. • Users may seriously underestimate the effects of driving while high. • Large number of students are buying and selling on campus. • What should be the role of campus police and administrators?

32. Marijuana Use on a College Campus: Results of Student Administered Research • What is the solution?

33. Thank You