Demographic Variables and Recreational Substance Use among College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between demographic variables and recreational substance use within the college population. Eight hundred thirty-two college-aged students were given the Wellness Activity Profile, a questionnaire that includes sections yielding demographic and recreational substance usage data. Discriminant analyses of the data indicated that persons using recreational substances differed significantly from non-users. Marijuana users differed from non-users on parental income, high school grade point average, gender, and political orientation, while no demographic differences were found between cocaine users and non-users. Composite substance users differed from non-users on political orientation, parental income, and gender.