Abstract
Tobacco, alcohol and cannabis are commonly used among university students. However, student lives and their substance use have changed dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on (trends in) weekly smoking, weekly binge drinking and weekly cannabis use in Dutch university students and investigated associated student-, study- and COVID-19-related characteristics. Between April and June 2020, several Dutch higher educational institutes invited their students to participate in an online survey. Data of 9967 students (Mage = 22.0 (SD = 2.6); Nfemale = 7008 (70.3%)) were available for analyses. Overall, weekly smoking remained stable (±11.5%), weekly binge drinking decreased (from 27.8% to 13.9%) and weekly cannabis use increased (from 6.7% to 8.6%). Male gender, not living with parents, being a bachelor student, having less financial resources and less adherence to the COVID-19 measures were found to increase the risk of substance use (before/during the first COVID-19 lockdown). Additionally, male gender, not living with parents, being a bachelor student, not being born in the Netherlands and having a student loan contributed to the likelihood of increased substance use during COVID-19. Patterns of characteristics contributing to the likelihood of decreased weekly substance use during COVID-19 were less clear. The risk factors male gender, not living with parents and being a bachelor student do not only contribute to the likelihood of using substances but also contribute to the likelihood of increased use during a lockdown. Prevention and intervention programs should especially target these risk groups.
Highlights
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutralBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of tobacco smoking, binge drinking and cannabis use among university students were relatively high compared to peers who are not attending higher education [1,2,3,4]
We aimed to (1) investigate changes in the prevalence of weekly smoking, weekly binge drinking and weekly cannabis use before and during the first COVID-19 lockdown; (2) explore which student, study- and/or COVID-19-related characteristics are associated with weekly smoking, weekly binge drinking and weekly cannabis use both before and during the first COVID-19 lockdown; and (3) explore which pre-COVID19 student, and study-related characteristics contribute to changes in weekly smoking, weekly binge drinking or weekly cannabis use during the first COVID-19 lockdown in (a) non-users before COVID-19 and (b) weekly users before COVID-19
Subsequent amount of the students moved back to their parents during the first COVID-19 lockdown, and an increase was observed in the number of students who indicated not having enough financial resources
Summary
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of tobacco smoking, binge drinking and cannabis use among university students were relatively high compared to peers who are not attending higher education [1,2,3,4]. A large majority of Dutch university students consumed alcohol (92.8% lifetime use), and almost 30% were binge drinking more than once a month (in the past year) [6,7]. Almost half of the Dutch university students (42%) had used cannabis at least once in their lives [7]. Schools and universities closed, and lockdowns were introduced. The closing of the university with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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