Association of Social Network Characteristics with Substance Use among College-Going Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Family members, peers, and significant others are part of a college student’s social network. This cross-sectional study aimed to Assess substance use prevalence and patterns among college students, Compare the social network characteristics of substance users (SUs) and non-users (NUs), and Explore the association of social factors with substance use. Methods: The study involved 902 students from 11 Government and aided private degree colleges. Demographic and clinical data sheet, ASSIST, and Social Network Questionnaire were used to collect the data. Results: Prevalence of substance use was 26.9% and higher among males (21.5%). Alcohol (20%) and tobacco (15.5%) were the commonly used substances. SUs’ network was composed of unmarried persons (p