Changing patterns of substance use on campus: a four-year follow-up study

In 1969 and 1973, 598 and 474 randomly selected students at a large midwestern university reported their present and past use, and extent of use of substances taken without medical prescription. Ten of the 18 substances showed a significant increase in percentage of users over time with greatest increases for marijuana, hashish, and alcohol. These three plus tobacco are those substances most used by students and used most frequently. Other substances are used by less than 7 per cent presently and by less than 4 per cent on an often or regular basis. The percentage of tobacco users has not diminished, but smokers report lower frequencies of use in 1973. Single undergraduates reported highest percentage of substance users, and sex differences were not evident. Methodological issues in survey research on substance use are discussed as well as implications for substance educational programming.