NCJ Number
212539
Date Published
October 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study compared the rates of past-year illicit drug use among college students and nonstudents ages 18 to 22 by using annual averages based on combined 2002, 2003, and 2004 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Abstract
NSDUH defines any illicit drug as marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, or prescription-type drugs used nonmedically. Data show that past-year illicit drug-use rates among young adults ages 18 to 22 were similar for full-time college students (37.5 percent), part-time students (38.5 percent), and nonstudents (38.4 percent). Among males, the rate of past-year illicit drug use was lower for full-time students than nonstudents (40.0 percent compared to 43.0 percent); among females, however, the rate was higher for full-time students than nonstudents (35.3 percent compared with 33.1 percent). Full-time students were less likely than nonstudents to be past-year users of cocaine (6.3 percent compared to 8.2 percent), crack cocaine (0.4 percent compared to 1.4 percent), pain relievers used nonmedically (11.6 percent compared with 13.9 percent), and methamphetamine (0.8 percent compared with 2.6 percent). 1 table, 3 figures, and 5 notes