Factors Affecting Accessibility of Campus-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment in a U.S. College Sample

College students comprise a substantial proportion of young adults in the United States, the age group with the highest prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD). Although campus-based SUD treatment can support students' health and academic success, these services are often underutilized. Understanding barriers and facilitators to access from both student and staff perspectives is critical.

We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 25 participants (9 students and 16 staff) at a large public university in the United States. We conducted interviews before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2019-February 2021). We analyzed data using iterative categorization.

We identified six factors influencing access to campus-based SUD services: (1) college culture and treatment motivation; (2) technology; (3) stigma and awareness; (4) confidentiality concerns; (5) faculty involvement; and (6) cost and scheduling constraints.

Efforts to improve access to campus SUD services could include the following: normalizing alcohol-free activities, reducing SUD stigma, enhancing faculty engagement, and expanding SUD service staffing and student outreach.