What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction, Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Substance use & misuse on August 25, 2026.

Childhood adversity linked to higher cannabis risk in students

Q: What did this research study find?

Each additional *adverse childhood experience* was associated with **1.16 times the odds** of moderate/high-risk *cannabis* use among university students.

Associations of Loneliness and Childhood Adversity With ASSIST-Measured Substance Use Risk in a University Student Sample.

Substance use & misuse • August 25, 2026 • Relevant

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AI Summary

This cross-sectional study examined 2,393 university students in Southern California to assess whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were linked to moderate- or high-risk use of alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco, as measured by the WHO ASSIST screening tool. Students reporting more ACEs had higher odds of risky use across all three substances. Each additional ACE was associated with 1.16 times the odds of moderate/high-risk cannabis use, alongside similar increases for alcohol and tobacco.

Although loneliness was examined as a possible factor that might strengthen these relationships, it did not significantly change the associations between ACEs and substance-use risk. Because the research was cross-sectional, it shows a relationship rather than proving that childhood adversity causes later cannabis use. The findings support trauma-informed campus health services, including screening, prevention, and support that recognize the possible connection between past adversity and current substance-use risk.

💡 Key Findings

Each additional adverse childhood experience was associated with 1.16 times the odds of moderate/high-risk cannabis use among university students.

Good

70%

Greater cumulative ACE exposure was also associated with elevated alcohol and tobacco use risk, suggesting a broader relationship between childhood adversity and substance-use vulnerability.

Good

70%

Loneliness did not significantly moderate the associations between childhood adversity and alcohol, cannabis, or tobacco use risk.

Good

70%

The findings support trauma-informed behavioral health and targeted prevention within university health systems, while the cross-sectional design means the study does not establish causation.

High

80%

📄 Original Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with substance use risk, yet few studies have examined substance-specific risk using the WHO Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) in university populations. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey of 2,393 students at a public university in Southern California conducted in Spring 2024. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed associations between ACEs and moderate- to high-risk use of alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco and whether loneliness moderated these associations. ACE exposure was significantly associated with increased substance use risk. Each additional ACE reported was associated with 1.15 times the odds of moderate/high-risk alcohol use (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04-1.27), 1.16 times the odds of moderate/high-risk cannabis use (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07-1.25), and 1.15 times the odds of moderate/high-risk tobacco use (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04-1.26). Loneliness did not moderate the associations between ACEs and substance use risk (all p > 0.05). Greater cumulative ACE exposure was strongly associated with elevated alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use risk among university students, supporting the relevance of trauma-informed behavioral health approaches within campus health systems and highlighting the need for targeted prevention and intervention efforts.