B - 59 Recreational Drug Use Predicts Self-Reported Attention, Memory, and Academic Problems

Abstract Objective Our study examined the association between recreational substance use and neuropsychological impairments. Method Over 400 (N = 412) American adults (aged 18–75; M = 32.7, SD = 11.5) were recruited through Prolific to complete an online survey including the Drug Use Survey and Neuropsychological Impairment Scale. Participants reported being men (53.2%), women (42.7%), non-binary (2.2%), and other genders, and white (62.1%), African American/Black (17.0%), Asian/Asian American (8.0%), Hispanic/Latinx (6.8%), or other ethnicities (6.1%). We have no conflicts to report. Results Regression analyses showed that frequency of substance use significantly predicted self-reported inattention, F(11, 400) = 7.62, p < 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.15. The best predictors of inattention were cannabis use, non-medical use of prescription psychostimulants, and inhalant use. Similarly, substance use predicted memory problems, F(11, 400) = 4.68, p < 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.09. Strongest predictors of memory problems were cannabis, hallucinogen, and inhalant use. Likewise, cannabis use, inhalant use, and non-medical use of prescription psychostimulants significantly predicted academic problems, F(11, 400) = 3.89, p < 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.07. Conclusions As hypothesized, our study found that substance use is a significant predictor of self-reported inattention, memory issues, and academic problems. Specifically, results suggest that cannabis users, non-medical users of prescription psychostimulants, and inhalant users experience more inattention and academic problems than non-users; these substance users and hallucinogen users experience more memory problems. The results of this study contribute to the growing body of literature highlighting the strong connection between recreational substance use and inattention, memory problems, and academic problems.