Cannabis use disorder uniquely predicts educational impairment in college students over and above other mental health disorders

Implications of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline among college students experiencing substance use crises

“…Substance use stigma has been shown to be considerably harsher and more degrading toward the individual than other mental health and medical disorders, prompting significantly higher levels of social rejection, structural discrimination, perceptions of danger, and emotional reactivity than many other conditions (Schomerus et al., 2011). Education aimed at increasing student literacy on substance use may help broaden student's understanding of the multifaceted ways problematic substance use might interfere with day‐to‐day functioning, offering a lower threshold for an understanding of crisis that incorporates previously discussed difficulties, such as declines in academic performance (DeBerard et al., 2004; Morissette et al., 2022) and heightened risk‐taking (King & Whelan, 2020; Wechsler et al., 2000). Advertisements for the 988 Lifeline may provide clarity on when students may contact the Lifeline, such as examples of potential crises, as well as provide answers to potential safety concerns.…”

“…Substance use in college students has been associated with poor academic performance (DeBerard et al., 2004; Morissette et al., 2022), lowered class attendance (Arria et al., 2015), and failure to graduate (Rimsza & Moses, 2005). Substance misuse is considered a risk‐taking behavior, wherein one knowingly engages in activities with potentially negative consequences, and is linked to other risk‐taking behaviors in students such as gambling (King & Whelan, 2020), problematic internet use (Qeadan et al., 2022), drunk driving, unsafe sex, and incidence leading to involvement with police (Wechsler et al., 2000).…”