Substance use among the college-age population is a main public health and educational concern. Young adults have consistently been found to have the highest rates of substance use. It has been suggested by recent studies that rates of illicit drug and alcohol use are higher among high school dropouts than college students.

Things that may lead to college student's initiation into or escalation of substance abuse are independence from parental control, or the availability of substances on college campuses. Young adults who attend college are at a lower risk than those who don't attend college, and living arrangements may also be an important factor. Residence in a fraternity or sorority is a strong predictor of binge drinking and residential colleges tend to have higher rates of binge drinking than commuter schools.

High school dropouts are of particular concern because their low educational accomplishment makes them susceptible to a...