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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Illegal Drug Use Among College Students: Findings from a French Sample

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Abstract

Background

While studies have demonstrated the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on lifelong health, less is known about the relationship between ACEs and illegal drug use. Thus, the objective of the study was to examine the relationship between ACEs and illegal drug use among college students.

Methods

French college students between 18 and 30 years enrolled in a university cohort study were eligible for inclusion. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted for each drug.

Results

Among the sample (n = 1,157), 30.6% had no ACE exposure, 29.6%, 19.2%, and 20.7% had 1, 2 and ≥ 3 ACEs, respectively. Students with ACEs had a higher likelihood of using illegal drugs (p = 0.0067). After controlling for potential confounders, having ≥ 3 ACEs increased the risk of lifetime use of multiple drugs (aOR:10.9; 95% CI: 4.6–26.0), stimulants (aOR: 3.6; 95% CI:1.7–7.7), hallucinogens (aOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1–3.5), cannabis (aOR: 4.7; 95% CI: 2.7-8.0), and risky illegal drugs (e.g., higher lifetime frequency drug use) (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5–5.8). Estimates for illegal drug use were highest with parental substance use (aOR: 2.6; 95% CI; 1.5–4.4), sexual abuse (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI; 1.4–3.8), and divorce (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3–2.7).

Conclusions

ACEs increase the risk for lifetime illegal drug use and risky drug use in a dose-respondent fashion. These findings suggest that university students with higher levels of ACEs may benefit from additional support and services from clinical practitioners and university administrators.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the participants of the i-Share project for their commitment and cooperation and to the entire i-Share staff for their expert contribution and assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by a Fulbright-University of Bordeaux grant through the Franco-American Fulbright Commission. Additionally, the i-Share team is currently supported by an unrestricted grant of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council (Conseil Régional Nouvelle-Aquitaine, grant N°4370420). It has also received grants from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (Agence Régionale de Santé Nouvelle-Aquitaine, grant N°6066R-8), Public Health France (Santé Publique France, grant N°19DPPP023-0), and The National Institute against cancer INCa (grant N°INCa_11502). The funding bodies were neither involved in the study design, or in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, U1219, CHU Bordeaux, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, F-33000, 33076, Inserm, Bordeaux, France

    Ashlyn Schwartz, Cédric Galera, Julie Arsandaux, Ilaria Montagni & Christophe Tzourio

  2. Public Health, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, USA

    Ashlyn Schwartz

  3. Charles Perrens Hospital, Bordeaux, France

    Cédric Galera

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  1. Ashlyn Schwartz
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Correspondence to Ashlyn Schwartz.

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Schwartz, A., Galera, C., Arsandaux, J. et al. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Illegal Drug Use Among College Students: Findings from a French Sample. Int.J. Behav. Med. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-023-10256-0

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