Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase
308307
Marijuana use during college: Impact on academic behaviors and achievement
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Amelia M. Arria, PhD
,
Center on Young Adult Health and Development/Dept of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD
Kimberly Caldeira, MS
,
Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Brittany A. Bugbee, BA, BS
,
Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Kathryn B. Vincent, MA
,
Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Kevin O'Grady, PhD
,
Center on Young Adult Health and Development/Dept of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Marijuana use is highly prevalent among college students, and recent legislative actions that decriminalize or legalize recreational and/or medicinal marijuana use in several states will most likely increase the availability of marijuana in those communities. Such changes might be especially burdensome for colleges and universities, given that prior research has demonstrated that marijuana use can adversely impact college students’ academic performance. Utilizing data from the College Life Study, a longitudinal cohort study of health-risk behaviors among a sample of 1,253 college students at a large mid-Atlantic university, we examined the relationship between marijuana use frequency and academic behaviors during college (i.e., average number of hours spent studying per week; average percentage of classes skipped) as well as college academic outcomes (i.e., final cumulative GPA at graduation, time to graduation). Follow-up rates were excellent (76% to 91% annually). Graduation dates were obtained from administrative data from the home university (85%) and supplemented with self-report data for individuals graduating from other institutions (5%). Marijuana use frequency was significantly and positively associated with fewer hours of studying, a higher percentage of skipped classes, lower GPA, and delayed graduation. Students who are academically deficient might be a potential target for substance use screening and intervention. Policy makers considering legislative changes that would allow wider availability of marijuana should weigh those decisions against the potential impact of such availability on the academic achievement of college students.
Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the longitudinal associations between marijuana use frequency in relation to studying and skipping class during college.
Describe the longitudinal association between marijuana use frequency during college and indicators of academic performance (i.e., time to graduation; GPA)
Describe the potential public health significance of increased availability of marijuana on educational achievement among college students.
Keyword(s): Epidemiology, Public Health Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the PI of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of substance use. Among my scientific interests has been how substance use effects academic behaviors and achievement.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
