Survey says: substance use is low

By Amy Kalina
Managing Editor

Editor’s Note: This article is a follow-up to the April 27, 2007, focus on results on alcohol use, which can be viewed at www.smumn.edu/cardinal.

A survey of Saint Mary’s University undergraduates shows substance use rates among students below the national average and cites gender and use of other substances as factors in tobacco and illegal drug use.
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The survey, which took place in the spring of 2006 with results released in 2007, was conducted by Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota in conjunction with SMU and ten other post-secondary institutions. The report aimed to study students’ tobacco, alcohol and other drug use behaviors, including rates of use and relationships between the uses of different substances.

Of the 207 SMU students who responded to the survey, 13.7 percent reported the use of tobacco products within the past 30 days, a number below the national average of 31.5 percent. Also below the national average was the percentage of SMU students reporting the use of marijuana within the past month at 7.5 percent, less than half the national average of 18.8 percent.

The survey also showed gender differences in both the use of tobacco and illegal substances. According to the survey results, 21.7 percent of undergraduate males consider themselves regular tobacco users, compared to 9.7 percent of females. In addition, 32.3 percent of males reported marijuana use, compared to 12.5 percent of females, within the past year.

Alcohol and Drug Education Coordinator Michael O’Friel sees these gender differences as consistent with current gender trends in American society.

“What our results show quite clearly is that our males are struggling with these issues much more than our females. As a whole, you look at men and women on our campus, and who is succeeding as a gender group? Females, by far, are excelling,” said O’Friel. “The men are drinking more, using drugs more, getting into trouble more, have lower GPAs. I think it’s a larger issue overall, but certainly an important one to address.”

Angel Weisbrod, director of health services, agrees that the gender differences could be attributed to larger sociological issues. “It may be that it is more socially acceptable for males to use tobacco or drugs than it is for females,” said Weisbrod.

In addition to the gender differences, the survey found relationships between the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Tobacco users were found to be more likely to engage in high risk behaviors than non-tobacco users. Tobacco users reported high risk drinking at a rate of 82.1 percent, more than twice the rate of non-tobacco users at 38.1 percent. Tobacco users also reported marijuana use at a rate of 29.6 percent, compared to 4.1 percent among non-tobacco users. These statistics, said O’Friel, demonstrate the significant correlation between smoking tobacco and use of other substances.

“We have pretty clear data where individuals who smoke tobacco are more likely to smoke marijuana, more likely to drink heavily, and are more likely to experiment with drugs,” said O’Friel, who believes that educating students on the statistics and their implications is important in helping them make better decisions. “If we can target that group [with programming], that would make a much bigger difference as they tend to be more of a high-risk group.”

The survey results have been instrumental in forming and implementing policy changes related to substance use on campus, said O’Friel. New additions to the substance use procedures include the Good Samaritan Policy and the formation of a Tobacco 101 class for tobacco policy violators.

The research also helps in developing educational programming on campus, said Weisbrod. With the help of the Health Advocates, campus-wide initiatives are formed several times each semester to encourage healthy life choices and increase awareness. Love Your Lungs week, which will take place Nov. 8-16, will aim to inform students of the dangers of smoking and encourage them to be tobacco free. Also being planned is the second annual Mocktail Party, which will be held on Dec. 4 and will address the issue of high-risk drinking in a fun and interactive way, said senior Health Advocate Laura Eggert.

“We try to do programs as a way of educating students about different health topics and healthy living choices,” said Eggert. “We are also available as support for those that would like to talk or would like help with any [substance related] issues.”

Weisbrod encourages students who may be struggling with tobacco, drug or alcohol use to seek help from someone that they trust. “They’re dealing with an addiction, and that’s a hard thing to overcome,” said Weisbrod. “We can sit down with them, perhaps help identify the underlying causes of their substance use, and help them form a plan.”

Weisbrod also believes that being educated on the substance use statistics is essential in accurately surveying the habits of other students and removing the “blinders” that cause students to believe that using is the status quo. “Knowledge is power,” said Weisbrod. “We help them discover choices that will be healthier for them not only now but throughout their lives.”

For more information on the current alcohol, drug and tobacco policies at SMU, visit www.smumn.edu/sitepages/
pid3531.php.