Cannabis use among North American college students linked to worse psychosocial functioning
Among college students in North America, cannabis use was associated with multiple adverse psychosocial outcomes, extending adolescent-onset findings into the college-age population.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis use among college-enrolled young adults was associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes across multiple domains. The findings extend what is known about adolescent-onset cannabis use into the college-age population where use peaks.
Key Numbers
North American college student sample. Cannabis use associated with adverse outcomes across multiple psychosocial domains during the peak-use age window (18-22).
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study examining relationships between cannabis use and multiple psychosocial functioning domains among college students in North America.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use peaks between ages 18-22, coinciding with college. Understanding whether the adverse psychosocial associations documented in adolescents persist into this age group is important for campus health policies.
The Bigger Picture
The normalization of cannabis on college campuses has outpaced evidence about its effects on this specific population. Most cannabis research focuses on either adolescents or general adults, leaving a gap for the transitional college-age group.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. College students who use cannabis may differ from non-users in pre-existing ways. Self-reported measures. Cannot determine whether cannabis use preceded psychosocial difficulties.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do these associations persist after controlling for pre-college psychosocial functioning?
- ?Would college-based cannabis prevention programs improve academic and social outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis use associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes during peak-use college years
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional study with appropriate methodology for the college population. Cannot establish causation or control for pre-existing differences.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Use Associations with Adverse Psychosocial Functioning among North American College Students.
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 58(13), 1771-1779 (2023)
- Authors:
- Vidal, Carol(2), Alvarez, Patty, Hammond, Christopher J(6), Lilly, Flavius R W
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05001
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use affect college students' academic performance?
This study found cannabis use associated with multiple adverse psychosocial outcomes in college students. While cross-sectional data cannot prove cannabis caused these problems, the pattern extends what has been documented in younger adolescents into the peak-use college years.
Is cannabis use common among college students?
Cannabis use rates peak between ages 18-22, coinciding with college attendance. This study documents that the associations between cannabis use and adverse psychosocial outcomes are not limited to adolescents but extend into the college-age population.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05001APA
Vidal, Carol; Alvarez, Patty; Hammond, Christopher J; Lilly, Flavius R W. (2023). Cannabis Use Associations with Adverse Psychosocial Functioning among North American College Students.. Substance use & misuse, 58(13), 1771-1779. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2247075
MLA
Vidal, Carol, et al. "Cannabis Use Associations with Adverse Psychosocial Functioning among North American College Students.." Substance use & misuse, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2247075
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Use Associations with Adverse Psychosocial Function..." RTHC-05001. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/vidal-2023-cannabis-use-associations-with
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.