High Socioeconomic Status Predicts Substance Use and Alcohol Consumption in U.S. Undergraduates

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Addiction Studies

Background:

• Traditional health sociology posits socioeconomic status (SES) reduces illness risk.
• This model overlooks the link between affluence and unhealthy consumption patterns.
• This study investigates drug and alcohol use among affluent U.S. college students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if undergraduate students from high-SES households exhibit higher rates of drug and alcohol consumption.
• To examine the relationship between SES and substance use in a college student population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized self-report data from 18,611 undergraduates (aged 18-24).
• Data sourced from the Healthy Minds 2016 dataset, covering 23 U.S. institutions.
• Controlled for demographic factors including gender, race, residence, and relationship status.

Main Results:

• High-SES undergraduates were more likely to use marijuana, use varied drugs, and consume alcohol frequently.
• Substance use to cope with stress was also higher among affluent students.
• Race and marital status were stronger predictors of substance use than SES; Asians and married students reported lower use.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the hypothesis that higher SES correlates with increased drug and alcohol consumption in college students.
• These substance use patterns are robust even after controlling for key demographic variables.
• Drug and alcohol consumption may be a factor contributing to downward economic mobility among privileged students.