Drug Usage as Determined under Conditions of Anonymity and High Questionnaire Return Rate

Abstract

Information concerning lifetime usage of major drugs, overall frequency of usage, places and situations of initial usage and exposure to drug usage through social group contacts was examined. A drug survey questionnaire dealing with marihuana, amphetamines, heroin, hallucinogens, tranquilizers and antidepressants was administered in classroom settings to a total of 332 college students. Subjects did not record their names and were assured of complete anonymity. The return rate for questionnaires was 99.4%. Subgroup analysis differentiated freshmen and upperclassmen and males and females. Lifetime usage of marihuana and LSD ranged from 55-80.6% and from 14-30%, respectively. Current use ranged from 30.1-62.5% for marihuana and from 2.5-9.1% for hallucinogens. Sex differences were minimal, and usage levels were generally higher in upper-classmen than in freshmen.