Drug use and cognitions about drug use amongst students; Changes over the university career

This study examined the hypothesis that students would exhibit changes in their levels of, and cognitions about, drug use throughout their university career. Three hundred and eighty undergraduates from Years 1, 2, and 3 (174 male, 206 female) initially participated in the study (response rate 63%). Questionnaires were distributed at 6-month intervals over a period of 2 years, resulting in 4 time points. The questionnaires contained items relating to the use of, and cognitions about the use of, alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, ecstasy, LSD, and tobacco. No evidence was found to suggest an increase in the percentage of respondents using drugs over their university career. However, a significant increase in the frequency of ecstasy use between Years 1 and 2 was found. Various cognitive measures also exhibited changes between Years 1 and 2, associated with increasingly "liberal" views toward drug use. No evidence was found to suggest that drug use tailed off toward the end of the university career. The findings point to the need for increased drugs education for students, and the need for more research to aid in the understanding of how university life affects drug use levels.