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

Apr 8, 2026Journal of American college health : J of ACH

How drug access and use change from high school to after college: Findings from national health surveys

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Abstract

A total of 6,380 U.S. individuals aged 16-25 were surveyed to explore changes in perceived drug accessibility and its association with substance use.

  • Educational stage is associated with accessibility to multiple drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, crack, and LSD.
  • Cannabis accessibility notably increased after the first year of college and remained high for post-college adults.
  • Greater accessibility to cannabis is linked with higher rates of cannabis use.
  • Post-college adults had lower odds of being approached by drug sellers compared to high school students.
  • The findings suggest that drug accessibility varies by educational stage, indicating a need for targeted prevention strategies.

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