COLLEGE STUDENTS' PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

Recreational substance use has become normalized and prevalent on college and university campuses, increasing the risk of college students developing Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Despite the risk of substance abuse and high rates of other forms of mental illness in the U.S. college population, many students fail to recognize hazardous substance use and neglect seeking treatment. However, there is a paucity of research examining the predictive factors that contribute to the development of SUD in college students. The present study examined how adverse childhood experiences (ACES), current substance use behaviors, and family history of substance use corresponded to the attitudes of 613 college students toward SUD, perceived stigma surrounding SUD, and treatment options. The quantitative results demonstrated no significant differences among the predictor variable groups. Qualitative results demonstrated that participants most often reported needing interpersonal support, counseling, and greater education to navigate a loved one’s substance use disorder; witnessing SUD in family members resulted in negative emotional impacts; and participants largely attributed SUD development to mental health and family influences, along with peer, coping, and support-related factors. It is hoped that these findings will provide information to university mental health professionals about the complexities of SUD in diverse students and offer insight into how to integrate prevention, harm reduction, outreach, and treatment programs to support the unique needs of this high-risk population.