Drugs used by students: caffeine, tobacco, marihuana, cocaine and alcohol.

Abstract

Istvan and Matarazzo (1984) reported that research indicated a weak association between the use of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine but that no study had explored the use of all three drugs together. The present study examined the use of caffeine, tobacco, marihuana, cocaine and alcohol by 115 male and 119 female students, aged 18 to 22 yr., and enrolled in college courses. Students were asked anonymously to indicate whether they were currently using each of these drugs. Phi correlations showed that che use of cigarettes, marihuana, and cocaine were relared (phis = 0.36 co 0.43).? Similarly use of beer, wine, hard liquor, and cocktails were all related (phis = 0.19 to 0.48). This pattern of results was obtained for the total sample and for men and for wornen separately. For men only, use of coffee was associated with the use of cigarettes and ~narihuana (phis = 0.17 and 0.19). For men, the use of alcohol was not associated with the use of cigarettes, marihuana, and cocaine. For women, however, use of alcohol (especially hard liquor) was related to the use of cigarettes, marihuana, and cocaine (phis 0.32 to 0.38). Factor analyses (using SPSSX PC extraction with a varimax rotation) confirmed these patterns of a~sociarion.~ Of the 28 phi correlations, 28 were positive (and 22 were statistically significant) so, over-all, the use of different drugs was positively associated, though clusters of drugs which are strongly related can be identified.