College students’ conceptualization of substance use by peers and themselves: a pilot vignette-based experiment

INTRODUCTION: Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among college students. We assessed whether college students rate scenarios representing symptoms of SUDs differently depending on 1) whether symptoms were ascribed to a friend or to themselves and 2) across drugs. METHODS: Each participant read vignette describing use of either tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, Adderall, cocaine, Vicodin, heroin, a non-drug anxiety condition, or a non-drug/non-mental health condition. Participants rated the clarity/believability, degree of substance use, and severity/illness nature. Participants then read and rated another vignette describing the same condition, except "you" engaged in those behaviors and experienced those symptoms. RESULTS: Ratings of others' substance use were higher than ratings of personal substance use. Marijuana use was rated as less serious and life-threatening compared to other substances. Interestingly, stress was identified most as a chronic medical condition. CONCLUSION: College students might need additional information regarding SUDs to provide peer support and seek treatment themselves.