Marijuana Use Soars Among College Students While Alcohol Use Drops: Research

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study has found that marijuana use among college students is soaring as alcohol consumption drops.

In its “Monitoring the Future” report, the NIH found that 44 percent of college students reported using marijuana in the past year, a 6-point increase from 2015. Daily marijuana usage ticked up from 5 percent to 8 percent of respondents during that time.

Meanwhile, 56 percent of college students said they consumed alcohol last year, dropping from 62 percent in 2019.

The number of students who reported binge drinking, defined as having five or more drinks during an outing, dipped from 32 percent to 24 percent in 2020, according to the report.

Nine percent of college students admitted to psychedelic drugs usage, a 4-point increase from 2019.  The report also highlighted the decline of cigarette smoking, amphetamines, and prescription opioid usage among students.