Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101580

Laurel A. Sharmer, Phd, MPH, CHES, Department of Community Health, SUNY Potsdam, Maxcy Hall, Potsdam, NY 13676, 315-267-3136, sharmela@potsdam.edu and Roopa M. Korni, MD, SUNY College at Potsdam, Potsdam, NY, Community Health, 8287 Ridge Road West, Apt. A, Brockport, NY 14420.

During the spring 2002 semester, students in the honors section of a course on drugs at a college in the Northeast conducted quantitative survey research about marijuana use by their fellow students. A representative sample of students (n=311) was selected. Results of the research showed that approximately 50% of the students surveyed use marijuana at least once a month. Of those students who reported using marijuana, 40% reported going to class or work high, 32% reported having taken a test while high and 25% reported selling marijuana on campus. There were no statistically significant differences between marijuana use and age, grade point average, gender or year in school. Statistically significant associations were found for marijuana use and membership in a Greek fraternal organization, cigarette smoking, living off campus, and parental use of marijuana. Thirty-three percent of users and 81% of non-users agreed with the statement “Driving while high is just as dangerous as driving while drunk.” This research was followed up in spring 2003 by a new class of students in the honors drug class. Twenty-five students in a convenience sample were interviewed by students enrolled in the honors class. Subjects were first asked about their own use of marijuana and then were asked a series of open-ended questions such as “What are your thoughts on the debate about whether or not marijuana use affects the ability of a student to perform well in class?” These data provide important information about the development of marijuana-use prevention programs for colleges.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session partipants will

• Describe the extent of marijuana use on a college campus, as that use is measured by students;
• State students' opinions and attitudes about marijuana use on a college campus;
• Describe a framework for student-led research and marijuana prevention programs on college campuses

Keywords: Marijuana, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Handout (.ppt format,