Drug accessibility and use from high school through after college: Insights from the national surveys on drug use and health.

Objective

To examine changes in perceived drug accessibility and its association with substance use from high school through post-college adulthood.

Participants

U.S. individuals aged 16-25 from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 6,380).

Methods

Participants were categorized into six educational stages from right before college to some time after college. Survey-weighted generalized linear models assessed accessibility/use to cannabis, cocaine, crack, heroin, and LSD, and the likelihood of being approached by drug sellers.

Results

Educational stage was associated with accessibility to cannabis, cocaine, heroin, crack, and LSD. Cannabis accessibility increased after the first college year and remained high post-college, and greater accessibility predicted cannabis use. Post-college adults had lower odds of being approached by drug sellers than high school students.

Conclusions

Drug accessibility varies across educational stages, with cannabis showing high access and a link to use, highlighting the need for stage-specific prevention strategies.