Survey provides updated information about substance use, mental health, gambling among Indiana college students
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University researchers at Prevention Insights, a center in the School of Public Health-Bloomington, have released results from the 2025 Indiana College Substance Use Survey. The survey measures use of substances like marijuana and alcohol, use of substance-delivery tools like electronic vapor products, mental health, and gambling behaviors among college students across the state.
Among the findings highlighted in 2025, roughly half (49.8%) of responding students reported consuming alcohol in the past month, with around one-fifth (21.5%) reporting binge drinking at least once in the two weeks before taking the survey. Marijuana remained the second most frequently reported substance used in the past month (20.5% of respondents).
“The information we collect about college students’ substance use allows both campus and state leaders to have up-to-date information about issues impacting students. They can use this evidence to design policies and practices, allocate resources where they’re needed most, and ultimately, improve the well-being of students across the state,” said Kaitlyn Follmer, a research associate at Prevention Insights.
In terms of mental health, a little over one-third (33.5%) of respondents indicated that they experienced a period of “significant sadness/hopelessness that lasted for two or more weeks” in the past year. The survey also asked about the prevalence of suicidal ideation. Around one-tenth (10.5%) of respondents reported seriously considering attempting to die by suicide within the past year. Heather Todd, Deputy Director of Prevention Insights, noted that, “Mental health can impact many aspects of someone’s life, including, but not limited to, social interactions, academic/professional success, physical needs, and financial considerations. Students in higher education are especially vulnerable since they may be living away from their main support system for the first time, feeling isolated from others around them, and having pressure to succeed academically.”
For gambling, over 40% of students (42.4%) reported engaging in gambling behaviors in the past year, with the most frequently reported activities being playing the lottery (23.3%), video game in-app purchases (11.5%), and charitable gambling (10.2%).
Twenty-six Indiana colleges participated in the 2025 Indiana College Substance Use Survey. The survey report included responses from 5,402 18- to 25-year-old students in spring 2025. The survey uses a convenience sampling methodology, and all Indiana colleges are invited to participate.
Follmer described one of the major benefits for schools that participate in the survey, “As part of our goal to provide information to colleges, each participating school receives a customized campus report that benchmarks their data against statewide data, enabling them to identify and address the most pressing issues specific to their campus.”
The 2025 survey was the 14th survey conducted since 2009. Among the other findings:
- Out of all students, 17.2% reported using electronic vaping products in the past month.
- Surveyed students were also asked how many days over the past month they felt their mental health was not good, including when they experienced stress, depression or problems with emotion. The average response was 8.2 days per month, and 16.7% of responding students said their mental health was poor on 16 days or more in the past month.
- Of students who reported gambling in the past year, 59.0% indicated entertainment or fun as their reason, 16.3% said it is a way to socialize with friends, and 8.9% said they gamble for excitement or the challenge.
- The most frequently reported consequences of gambling (of those who reported any gambling behavior in the past year) include feeling guilty or bad about gambling (7.5%) and money issues (4.4%).
Funding for the Indiana College Substance Use Survey was provided in part by Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction.