Student Research Report: Social Isolation Related to Increased Substance Use Among MNSU Students
In Spring 2021, students in Dr. Emily Stark’s Research Methods and Design course completed multiple hands-on data collection projects. They were also assigned a blog paper where they discussed one of the topics they chose to research and explained their findings to a general audience. The goal of this was to give students an opportunity to explore a different form of writing from APA-style research papers. Some of these blog papers will be featured here throughout the summer to showcase the students’ findings. Please feel free to contact Dr. Stark through the contact form on this site for additional information about this course or the assignments used.
By Alexis Ewanga
Do you vape or drink alcohol? Have you increased these behaviors since the coronavirus pandemic? A 2021 survey distributed electronically to college students at Minnesota State University Mankato (MNSU) demonstrated an increase in vape and alcohol use with lower social interaction during quarantine. The coronavirus pandemic led to widespread quarantine last year and the shutdown of several colleges and universities. In turn, this social isolation was related to negative coping mechanisms and more health-risk behaviors for college students. It is important to acknowledge the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as college students need support and guidance during these times, especially when dealing with substance abuse. There are key points from prior research, as well as my study, that will be highlighted with reasonable conclusions that inform us of solutions for this issue.
Recent research has demonstrated increased substance use during the pandemic. For example, a study last year found an increase in alcohol use after the closure of a large public university during the coronavirus pandemic (Lechner, 2020). In this study, university students self-reported their alcohol use and social support. This research also tells us that social support is connected to lower alcohol use. Additionally, a survey by Streck et al. (2021) revealed more than a quarter of participants who were vape users had increased their use during quarantine. Participants were 53% male and 47% female and self-reported their vape use in this survey. Overall, these two sources emphasize the increase of health-risk behaviors of college students during the pandemic. This is essential information that cannot and should not be ignored. Interestingly, the study at MNSU yielded similar results.
A survey I created with classmates in my Research Methods and Design course also demonstrated an increase in vape and alcohol use among college students as they were less social. Our class distributed an electronic survey covering the topics of academics, health, work, and coronavirus guidelines. 122 college student participants completed the survey which was voluntary. Then I chose to specifically analyze gender, social interaction, and substance use. From my analysis, I was able to conclude that lower social interaction was related to increased substance use, regardless of gender. This is a compelling conclusion that is also supported by other recent research. Now that we have this information, the next step is figuring out how to help college students struggling with this issue and to prevent substance abuse during times of social isolation.
Everyone should know the risks of alcohol and vape use, as well as realize the importance of social support. For example, binge drinking is four or more drinks for females and five or more drinks for males on an occasion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021a). Binge drinking is common for college students and can have serious consequences. Short-term risks of alcohol abuse include injuries, violence, and alcohol poisoning, while long-term risks are heart disease, liver disease, and mental health problems (CDC, 2021a). Furthermore, vaping has side effects too. Nicotine use can change the development of the brain until it finishes growing at about 25 years of age, also vaping can increase the risk of future drug addiction (CDC, 2021b). Not only is it important to acknowledge the risks of substance abuse, but it is equally important to prevent and treat it. Social support has demonstrated a connection to lower substance use among college students in two of the previous sources mentioned. The study conducted by Lechner (2020) and my survey at MNSU showed increased social interaction, such as spending time with friends, was related to lower alcohol and nicotine usage. It is important for college students to remain socially active, especially during times of mandated lockdowns. This can be achieved through phone calls or texting, zoom hangouts, and school organized virtual events.
This research has demonstrated the significant increase of substance use among college students during the coronavirus pandemic. The increase in alcohol and vape use could have adverse health effects with short and long term consequences. Three sources of research have told us this is an issue and provided us with future steps. We must realize college students engage in health-risk behaviors, especially in times of isolation. We need to strengthen support systems for college students and ensure they are aware of the risks of substance abuse. We can help college students avoid behaviors that negatively affect their health by informing them of the consequences and encouraging social engagement.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021a, April 23). Quick facts on the risks of e-cigarettes for kids, teens, and young adults. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html?s_cid=OSH_emg_GL0004#why-is-nicotine-unsafe
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021b, February 23). Alcohol use and your health. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
Lechner, W., Laurene, K., Patel, S., Anderson, M., Grega, C., & Kenne, D. (2020). Changes in alcohol use as a function of psychological distress and social support following COVID-19 related University closings. Addictive Behaviors, 110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106527
Streck, J., Kalkhoran, S., Bearnot, B., Gupta, P., Kalagher, K., Regan, S., Wakeman, S., & Rigotti, N. (2021). Perceived risk, attitudes, and behavior of cigarette smokers and nicotine vapers receiving buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108438