 Researchers sought to expand on research related to racial/ethnic minorities (REM), they focused specifically on college students due to the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this demographic.
This study utilized the U.S. National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) research framework to examine factors that may influence substance use with data gathered from a longitudinal study of college students. Researchers adapted the NIMHD framework’s biological domain to include mental health factors, as being underlying vulnerabilities for negative substance use outcomes in the wake of new stressful experiences, which resulted in four domains of influence: mental health, behavioral (i.e., health behaviors, coping mechanisms), environmental (i.e., living situation, supportive relationships, trauma exposure) and sociocultural (i.e., social identities, discrimination).
Researchers hypothesized that positive coping behaviors and positive relationships/experiences would be protective and associated with decreased substance use. Additionally, they anticipated that poor mental health, prior trauma, experiencing disruptions in supportive relationships, discrimination experiences, and belonging to more vulnerable social groups would be risk factors and associated with increased substance use. Additionally, because exposure to stressors and assets for promoting health are unequally distributed across race/ethnicity, they contextualized these relationships with substance use by identifying which groups are experiencing greater or lesser exposure to risk and protective factors.
The study found that while infrequent substance use (monthly or less) decreased during the pandemic, abstinence rates increased (alcohol 39%; cannabis 18%; nicotine 18%) and higher-frequency alcohol use increased (207%-1600% 2–3 times+/week) compared to spring 2019. The strongest protective factor was change in living situation during the pandemic, associated with lower current alcohol and cannabis use. Risk factors included a history of trouble with law enforcement and impulsivity since the pandemic, both associated with higher current and increased alcohol and cannabis use. REM did not differ on most factors and the outcomes. However, a higher percentage of Asian-Americans than other REM reported living situation changes.
Researchers sought to analyze the possible relationship between both school bullying and cyberbullying with substance use. A selective methodology was used, administering a survey among students from state funded secondary schools in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain), and obtaining a sample of 3,173 adolescents ages 12 to 17 years. The questionnaire included items referring to the consumption of several substances, specific screening scales for the evaluation of risky consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Cannabis Abuse Screening Test and CRAFFT Abuse Screening Test) and validated multi-item scales to assess school bullying and cyberbullying involvement (European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire and European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire).
The results showed that the most consumed substances were alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, finding also high risky consumption rates. Adolescents involved in either school bullying or cyberbullying in any role (victims, perpetrators and bully-victims) presented significantly higher rates in the consumption habits and risky consumptions analyzed.
However, the results obtained in this study should be interpreted with caution, as it presents a few limitations. First, a non-probabilistic sample was employed, making it difficult to extrapolate the results to the general population. Second, the cross-sectional nature of this study has not allowed the establishment of causal relationships between the variables assessed. Despite the limitations, the results of the present study contribute to pointing out that substance use may be part of a broader pattern of behavioral problems in adolescence, such as antisocial peer relationships or involvement in violent behavior. School bullying, cyberbullying, drug use and other problematic behaviors would be interrelated, highlighting the need to address these issues jointly by implementing prevention strategies from a comprehensive approach.
 Please visit the Indiana Drug Overdose Dashboard, where you will find data from 2017 up to provisional data for 2021. In this dashboard, you will find data regarding opioid prescriptions, hospital discharges, and drug-related deaths.
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