Illegal Drugs

National Data

Among college students, rates of illicit drug use in the past year (other than marijuana) are estimated at about  20% .

Nationwide rates of use in the past year among college students are as follows:

• Amphetamines: 9.8%
• Tranquilizers: 4.9%
• MDMA: 4.7%
• Cocaine: 4.0%
• LSD: 3.0%
• Synthetic Marijuana: 1.3%
• Heroin: 0.2%
• Sedatives: b
• Methaqualone: 0.2%
• Inhalants: 0.2%

Nationwide rates of use in the past year among college students are as follows:

• Of those students who reported drug use, almost half (44%) had driven a car while on drugs, approximately one-third reported preoccupation with drug use or trying to limit or stop use, and one-quarter had taken more drugs than they planned or had used during school or work
• On average, males use illicit drugs at higher rates than females
• Peak age of illicit drug use among college students is ages 21-22
• Prevalence of use for most illicit drugs among college students is lower compared to use among their non-college peers

---

Missouri Data

In the past year, Missouri college students report rates of use as follows:

• Hallucinogens: 5.1%
• Cocaine: 4.0%
• Synthetic Marijuana: 3.3%
• Amphetamines: 3.1%
• Club drugs: 2.2%
• Inhalants: 0.9%
• Methamphetamines: 0.8%
• Heroin: 0.4%

At a Glance

• Key findings from the 2019 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors
• Substance Misuse and GPA

Volume 8

• Volume 8, Number 5: Marijuana and Other Illegal Drug Use among Missouri College Students

Volume 6

• Volume 6, Number 12: Marijuana and Other Illicit Drug Use

Volume 4

• Volume 4, Number 7: Prescription and Illicit Drug Misuse

Volume 1

• Volume 1, Number 16: Missouri College Students and Illegal Drug Use

Evidence Based Educational Programming

Effective educational programming includes the following elements:

• Increases students’ knowledge regarding the effects and the potential safety, health, social, academic and legal consequences of drug misuse
• Increases awareness regarding the signs and symptoms of drug misuse and dependency
• Assists students in evaluating their expectations regarding, and motivations for drug use
• Provides training in stress management, resistance skills and media literacy
• Assists students in exploring alternatives to drug use for socializing, destressing and celebrating
• Assists students in knowing how to help a friend in trouble
• Corrects misperception regarding norms for drug use at their institution
• Provides students with information about campus and community alcohol and other drug prevention, student assistance, and wellness and health promotion resources

Detection and Early Intervention of Substance Misuse Disorders

• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an early intervention approach that is being used in colleges nationwide
• The Community Prevention Initiative has a good guide on effective substance misuse prevention
• The SHADE (Self-Help for Alcohol and Other Drug Use and Depression) Computer Delivered Treatment may be a promising intervention to reduce substance use disorders. More information about SHADE can be found here

• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
• Addiction Resource
• Addiction Recovery
• Get Smart About Drugs: getsmartaboutdrugs.gov
• Drug Abuse Hotline: 1 (877) 801-7284
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1 (800) 662-4357

Check back soon!

Relevant Research Articles

• Monitoring the Future: Key Findings on Adolescent Drug Use (2016)
• Prevalence and incidence of drug use among college students: an 8-year longitudinal analysis
• Prevention and treatment of college student drug use: a review of the literature
• Drug use patterns and continuous enrollment in college: results from a longitudinal study