Abstract

Drugs cause chemical changes to a person’s mental and physical state and the misuse of such substances is a problem that affects not only strangers but our community and those closest to us. It is of utmost importance to determine the root and depth of the drug problem, especially among populations where the risk is highest. College students, also known as emerging adults, are a vulnerable group due to their unique environment that fosters higher exposure rates and the normalization of substance use. The current study focuses on students in higher educational institutions throughout Kentucky, a state known for being a diverse region in its geography and people. Given this, prevention and programs made to combat substance abuse must be tailored to the unique regional needs. Therefore, the goal of the project was to assess if the regional variance of a school (urban versus rural) would influence overall drug use, perceived harm, and first-time usage. A 15-part survey was developed and sent to 20 schools of which 11 came back with 230 total responses from students. Due to limited sample sizes, results showed little variance between all measures in urban and rural schools. There was statistical significance in urban schools– reporting greater cigarette use in the past 30 days. Consequently, without addressing these issues highlighted by the findings by gathering more participants, a complete mapping of drug use patterns by Kentucky’s college students cannot be made.

Semester/Year of Award

Fall 2024

Mentor

Lisa Middleton

Mentor Department Affiliation

Biological Sciences

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Bachelor Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Biological Sciences

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

5790

Presentation

https://mymaileku-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/venessa_miller31_mymail_eku_edu/EYbc-OqHcOJEu_YAYFI1gUkBhyNai9-jgSQjYt9rcCOA7w?e=3Ch1BC

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