More males used cocaine than females. Table 2.8 summarizes the annual prevalence of the six most frequently used drugs. Table 2.9 provides information about the age of first use of alcohol and other drugs. The highest percent of reported first use for tobacco, alcohol, amphetamines, and inhalants occurs at younger ages, but even for those drugs there are significant numbers of students who begin using between the ages of 18 and 25. Consequences Table 2.10 lists the self-reported consequences of alcohol and other drug use during the previous year.
Several findings are relevant to the academic environment.
Also, 28.2 percent reported a memory loss or blackout, and 50.1 percent reported being sick or nauseated due to substance use within the last year. As compared to female students, a greater proportion of male students reported experiencing each of the listed consequences as a result of substance use, with the exceptions of sexual abuse and suicide thoughts or attempts. A substantial contrast exists between the 35.6 percent of students who have driven under the influence and the 1.7 percent who were arrested for drunk driving. Alcohol Use and Academic Performance Table 2.11 describes the relationship between the average number of drinks consumed per week and self-reported grade average. As can be seen, the heaviest drinkers obtained the lowest grades.