Alcohol and marijuana use among college students are a public health crisis. Additionally, “the frequency of alcohol use (i.e., average number of alcohol-using days) increased significantly… and the frequency of cannabis use (average number of cannabis using days) increased significantly from pre-COVID to post-COVID” (Dumas et al., 2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are experiencing higher levels of social isolation. The stress of possibly contracting this disease, plus the potential depressive symptoms amplified by self-isolation, may impact substance use from pre-COVID to post/current-COVID. Recent research has begun to explore the relationship between substance use and depression. Dumas et al., (2020) found that teens tended to use substances alone more frequently than with peers. In addition, it is correlated with fears of COVID and depressive symptoms. However, teens using substances among their peers in social settings is normalized. . The purpose of this study was to further explore the relationship between anxiety and depression and alcohol consumption by exploring social distancing guidelines. It is hypothesized that teens that live with their parents abide by the social-distancing rules, yet still tend to use substances. Data is currently in progress via an online survey at a mid-sized midwestern university. The measures that are being used in this study are the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. It is anticipated that the use of alcohol and cannabis have increased since the start of the pandemic, and will continue to increase, as a result from the stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with COVID-19 and the restrictions put on social gatherings. By using substances in isolation, this can lead to a dangerous path of dependence to these substances when feeling anxious or depressed.
Authors: Emory Perlman and Rose Marie Ward
Faculty Advisor: Rose Marie Ward, Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health
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