The MAPme Project, a prospective college-based study of substance use and emotional wellness, found that approximately 64% of first-year students reported substance use in the 90 days leading up to college, with alcohol and cannabis most prevalent, and significant sex differences in alcohol consumption and psychopathology.
Key Findings
Results
Approximately 64% of first-year college students reported using a substance in the 90 days leading up to college in 2018.
The 2018-2024 pilot cohort comprised 301 college freshmen who completed online assessments at baseline (Wave 1).
Alcohol and cannabis were the most prevalent substances used in both cohorts.
The study period spanned 2018-2024 and included remote data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2025+ cohort has currently enrolled 618 students with ongoing data collection.
Results
Males consumed more alcohol than females among first-year college students in both cohorts.
Sex differences in alcohol consumption were observed across both the 2018-2024 and 2025+ cohorts.
Alcohol was identified as the most prevalent substance used alongside cannabis.
The finding is consistent with data collected both pre-college and during early collegiate periods.
Results
Females reported greater levels of daily stressors and mood symptoms compared to males.
Sex differences were observed in psychopathology measures, with females showing higher levels.
Measures included daily stressors and mood symptoms as part of the broader assessment of emotional wellness.
These differences were observed at baseline and during follow-up assessments.
Results
Substance use and emotional well-being vary considerably upon entry into college and at any particular moment in time.
The study collected data at baseline (Wave 1) and followed students during the first two years of college.
Data collection continued remotely during COVID-19 and upon return to campus.
Assessments included substance use outcomes, psychopathology, sleep patterns, and personality traits.
The longitudinal design allowed for examination of within-person changes over time.
Results
The MAPme Project demonstrated the ability to test research hypotheses in social, health, and clinical psychology with robust statistical power.
Prior studies using MAPme data demonstrated ability to examine psychosocial risk and protective factors.
The project design is prospective, allowing for longitudinal tracking of substance use and mental wellness.
The 2018-2024 cohort enrolled 301 participants and the 2025+ cohort has enrolled 618 and counting.
The project spans both pre-collegiate and collegiate periods, enabling examination of transitions.
Background
Transitional age youth aged 18-25 display significantly higher alcohol and illicit drug use levels than both adolescents and older adults.
College students are described as particularly vulnerable at this critical life juncture.
Transitioning to adulthood may impact emotional health and well-being.
Anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness are linked to increased risk of substance use and disorders in this population.
This vulnerability formed the rationale for the MAPme Project's focus on this age group.
Discussion
The MAPme Project identified lack of awareness, inclusivity, and acceptance of scientific research as key barriers to community participation in campus health research.
The project was designed to encourage student engagement to address these challenges.
Overcoming barriers of inclusivity and empowering the community is described as key to successful adoption and implementation of campus health programs.
The project also aims at systematically enhancing research training.
Community-oriented research program design was used to address these barriers.
What This Means
This research describes the MAPme Project, an ongoing study tracking substance use and mental health among college students, starting with a group of 301 freshmen enrolled between 2018 and 2024 and a newer group of 618 students enrolled from 2025 onward. The study followed students through their first two years of college, including the COVID-19 pandemic period when data collection moved online. Among the findings, nearly two-thirds of incoming freshmen reported using a substance — most commonly alcohol or cannabis — in the three months before starting college, and men tended to drink more alcohol than women, while women reported higher levels of daily stress and mood-related symptoms.
The study also highlights that mental wellness and substance use patterns are not static — they shift considerably as students transition into and through college. The MAPme Project was specifically designed to capture these changes over time and to examine how factors like sleep, personality, and psychological well-being interact with substance use. The researchers report that data from this project have already been used to test hypotheses across social, health, and clinical psychology research areas with sufficient statistical power.
This research suggests that the college transition period is a critical window for understanding and potentially addressing risky substance use and mental health challenges in young adults. The project also emphasizes the importance of building inclusive research programs that actively engage students and communities, noting that overcoming barriers around awareness and acceptance of research participation is essential for effective campus health initiatives.
Barfield-Steward W, Xiang Y, Najera D, Ober-Oluoch J, Benca-Bachman C, Derricott H, et al.. (2026). The MAPme Project: Implementing a College-Based Study of Substance Use and Mental Wellness.. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23081084