DSM-5 substance use disorders among college-age young adults in the United States: Prevalence, remission and treatment

J Am Coll Health. 2020 Aug-Sep;68(6):650-657. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1590368. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence, remission, and treatment associated with DSM-5 substance use disorders (SUDs) among young adults based on college attendance. Participants: The population-based sample included 2,057 young adults aged 19-23 in college/school and 1,213 not currently attending college/school who participated from April 2012 through June 2013. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted as part of a cross-sectional national survey. Results: The prevalence of any past-year DSM-5 SUD was 39.6% among young adults in college and 44.5% among those not attending college. Past-year tobacco use disorder and multiple DSM-5 SUDs were more prevalent among those not attending college. Among those with prior-to-past-year SUDs, abstinent remission was low among college (1.0%) and noncollege (1.9%) young adults. Conclusions: Approximately two in five U.S. college students had at least one past-year DSM-5 SUD. Sustained abstinent remission from SUDs is extremely rare (1-2%) and the majority of those with SUDs do not receive treatment.

Keywords: Alcohol; DSM-5; epidemiology; other drugs; substance use disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • United States
  • Universities
  • Young Adult