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Perceptions of the Prevalence of Marijuana Use Among College Students: A Comparison Between Current Users and Nonusers

ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this study was to determine the perception of the prevalence of using marijuana among a sample of college students and to assess the relationship between this perception and current marijuana use. Estimations of the prevalence of marijuana users exceeded the percentage of students who reported current marijuana use. Students estimated that 34.9% of male students and 27.7% of female students used marijuana in the past month. However, use in the past month was reported by 29.6% of males and 19.6% of females. Marijuana users gave significantly higher estimations of the percentage of male and females who use marijuana. The risk of using marijuana was much greater among students who held the perception that marijuana use was normative on campus (that more than half of students use marijuana). Marijuana users were also found to be at significantly higher risk of other substance use and sexual activity. Female marijuana users were more likely to have an eating disorder and to have ever attempted suicide. These findings suggest the need to provide accurate information about the prevalence of marijuana use on college campuses and to send the message that marijuana use is not normative on campuses. Because marijuana users are at high risk for engagement in health risk behaviors, they should be targeted in prevention programs.