Substance abuse has been a thorny issue in institutions of higher learning. The rate at which people misuse of prescription drugs and legalization of marijuana in some states is alarming. Employers are worried about the future supply of labor if potential employees engage in substance abuse while still in college. In the US, 40% of college students have misused substances.
The president of Rocky University is concerned about substance abuse in the university in the past years. Some faculty members believe that there is a rampant abuse of substance in the college compared to others. On the contrary, some members feel that substance abuse is not a major issue in the school. To clarify the issue, the president commissioned a study to assess the current situation of substance misuse in the university.
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An anonymous exit survey was administered to 90 students in the graduating class. Three questions were asked, and their responses were used to obtain data concerning three types of substance abuse. The three were binge drinking, prescription medication, and illegal drugs. The questions asked the interview whether they have abused any form during their stay in the University. Any student who gave a yes answer was considered to have abused substance.
Summary
90 students were interviewed of which 47 were female students, and 43 were male. From the sampled population, 44 students answered yes to one or more questions on substance abuse against 46 students who said no. This represents a percentage of 48.9%. Twenty-two female students and twenty-four male students do not abuse any substance. Twenty-five female and 19 male students abuse a single or several substances
From the student population who abuse substances, twenty-nine students abused one substance, five abused two and two abuse the three substances under study
Of the students who abused one substance, twelve were male, and seventeen were female. Those who abuse two substances included six male and four females whereas those who abused the three were a male and four female students
Ten male and nine female students engaged in binge drinking. Similarly, ten involved in prescription drugs and marijuana compared to 13 women. Seven abused illegal drugs compared to 14 ladies (Bohm, 2010; Mann, 2017; Seltman, 2015).
Confidence levels for the different categories
90% confidence level of all students involved in substance abuse
Total population -90
Population of substance abusers – 48.9%
Mean of the total population = 46%
Standard deviation = ⱱ(48.9-46)2 = ⱱ2.9 = 1.703
µ = M +-Z(sM)
µ = 46+-1.64 X 0.18
µ = 45+- 0.3
CI = [45.7, 46.3]
Proportion of all male students involved in substance use
Total number of students who use substances = 44
Total number of male students who engage in this activity = 19
Mean of the student category who abuse substance = 46/2 = 23
Standard deviation = ⱱ(19-23)2 =4
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM=ⱱ(42/44) = 0.603
µ = 22 +-1.64 X0.603
µ = 22+-0.99
Confidence interval = [21.11 – 22.99]
90% confidence interval of female students engaged in substance abuse
Total number of students engaged in substance abuse 44
Number of females who have abused any substance = 25
Mean of the students = 23
Standard deviation = ⱱ(25-23)2 =1.414
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(1.4142/44) = 0.21
µ = 23 +-1.64 X 0.21
µ = 23+-0.35
Confidence interval = [22.65 – 23.35]
Substance abuse by category
Binge drinking - 23
Prescription drugs and marijuana – 19
Illegal drugs - 22
Mean =2 3
Standard deviation (22-23)2 +(19-23)2 + (23-23)2 = 1+ 16 + = ⱱ17 = 4.123
Confidence interval for Binge drinking
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(4.1232/44) = 0.62
µ = 23 +-1.64 X0.62
µ = 23 +-1.02
Confidence interval [21.98 – 24.02]
Proportion of male students engaged in Binge drinking
Total number of male students in the population 44
Number on male student who drink 10
Mean of students who engage in binge drinking =10+9/2 =9.5
Confidence interval for Binge drinking in male
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(0.52/9.5) = 0.162
µ = 9.5 +-1.64 X0.162
µ = 9.5 +-0.266
Confidence Interval [9.234 - 9.766]
Confidence interval for women who engage in binge drinking
Confidence interval for Binge drinking
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(-0.52/9.5) = 0.162
µ = 9.5 +-1.64 X0.162
µ = 9.5 +-0.266
Confidence Interval [9.234 - 9.766]
Confidence interval prescription drugs and marijuana
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(1.72/44) = 0.256
µ = 21.3 +-1.64 X0.256
µ = 21.3 +-0.4198
Confidence interval = [20.88 - 21.72]
Confidence level of male students who abuse prescription drugs and marijuana
Total number of students who abuse these drugs =23
Number of male students =10
Mean =23/2 =11.5
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(1.52/11.5) = 0.442
µ = 11.5 +-1.64 X0.442
µ = 11.5 +-0.725
Confidence Interval [10.774 – 12.225]
Confidence level of male students who abuse prescription drugs and marijuana
Mean =23/2 =11.5
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(1.52/11.5) = 0.442
µ = 11.5 +-1.64 X0.442
µ = 11.5 +-0.725
Confidence Interval [10.774 – 12.225]
Confidence interval Illegal drugs
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(0.72/44) = 0.106
µ = 21.3 +-1.64 X0.106
µ = 21.3 +-0.173
Confidence interval = [21.13 - 21.47]
Confidence level of male students who abuse illegal drugs
Total number of users = 21
Mean =21/2 = 10.5
Number of male users =7
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(3.52/21) = 0.764
µ = 10.5 +- 1.64 X0.764
µ = 10.5 +-1.253
Confidence interval = [10.5 – 11.753]
Confidence level of female students who abuse illegal drugs
Total number of users = 21
Mean =21/2 = 10.5
Number of female users =14
µ = M +-Z(sM)
sM = ⱱ(3.52/21) = 0.764
µ = 10.5 +- 1.64 X0.764
µ = 10.5 +-1.253
Confidence interval = [10.5 – 11.753] (Bohm, 2010; Mann, 2017; Seltman, 2015).
Hypothesis testing
H O, the proportion of all students that does not abuse substance in the university is higher than other students elsewhere
Hi the proportion of students that does not abuse substance in the university is lower than other students elsewhere
Where x’ is the observed mean
µ is the population mean
s is the sample standard deviation
n is the sample size
s =ⱱ(51.1-54)2 = 2.9
t = 51.1 -54/0.306
t = -9.5
Degree of freedom = 90 – 1 = 89
α = 0.1
Probability value of = 1.662
Conclusion and Recommendations
The calculated t value is greater than the table value at an alpha level of 0.1. The P-value is less than the alpha level p<0.1
We reject the null hypothesis that the proportion of all students that does not abuse substance in the university is higher than other students elsewhere (Bohm, 2010; Mann, 2017; Seltman, 2015).
From the analysis, the number of students at Rocky University who abuse drugs is higher than other universities. The president and the management should devise a mechanism to reduce the number of users to be lower than the average 46%. The students should reduce abuse of substance so that they do not develop a bad reputation towards potential and future employers. The faculty should come up with engaging programs that will end up reducing substance users in the future. Similarly, counseling courses should be incorporated into the typical curriculum.
The findings of the study will affect the relationship between the business community and students who attended Rocky University. The potential employers will be hesitant to employ students from the university because of the prevalence of substance abuse. However, the business community should not generalize the findings to every student who graduated from the school. It is evident that more than half of the students have not engaged in any form of substance abuse. Similarly, some of the students were under peer pressure, but such situations change once they leave the university. This study can be improved by taking a larger sample to reduce possible standard errors.
References
Bohm, G., & Zech, G. (2010). Introduction to statistics and data analysis for physicists . Hamburg: Verl. Dt. Elektronen-Synchrotron.
Mann, P. S. (2017). Introductory Statistics . S.l.: John Wiley & Sons.
Seltman, H. J. (2015). Experimental Design and Analysis . Carnegie Melon University
