Impact of Secondhand Substance Use Effects Among Rural College Students

Background and Purpose: Substance misuse is prevalent among college students and many students experience academic, health, and psychosocial consequences connected to their substance use behaviors (Perkins, 2002). Because college students tend to reside within close proximity to other students they are also at risk for experiencing secondhand effects of substance use such as sleep or study interruption, property damage, arguments, assault, and unwanted sexual advances (Wechsler, Lee, Nelson & Kuo, 2002). Little is known about the impact of secondhand effects of substance use on rural college student populations. A number of National surveys have found substance use rates to be higher in rural communities than in urban areas (Shears, Edwards & Stanley, 2006). This pilot study explored the impact of substance use secondhand effects on students at a small rural Northeastern college. Methods: A sample of 175 students (44.8% male, 55.2% female; 62.2% on-campus, 37.8% off-campus) aged 18 -25 completed a web based survey that was sent to all students through their school email account. Students were sent three emails over the course of two weeks inviting them to participate in the survey. The survey included a subset of questions from the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey and the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Survey. Questions focused on substance use behaviors, consequences of substance use, social norms, and secondhand effects. Because of the binary nature of reported experience of substance use secondhand effects, logistic regressions were employed for the data analyses. Results: Among the secondhand effects students experience, taking care of an intoxicated student (66.7%) and having sleep or study interrupted (51.9%), were most prevalent. Females were nearly twice as likely as males to report unwanted sexual advances (OR = 1.95, p < .05) and to have been assaulted (OR = 1.98, p < .05). Younger students and students living on-campus experience more secondhand effects in comparison to older students and students living off-campus.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings from this pilot study indicate that students are experiencing serious secondhand effects of substance use. Further study is needed to determine other correlates impacting this problem. These preliminary findings suggest that this is an important area for substance use prevention programs and research. In particular the secondhand effect of substance use on women should be addressed in campus based prevention efforts.