Impulsivity and its connection with cannabis use among college students: The case of the University of Veracruz

Background Cannabis is the most widely used drug in the world, and in Mexico, it has the highest usage rate among young people. This trend is particularly evident among university students who are in a stage of transition and exploration. Several factors contribute to this increase, including high social acceptance, a low perception of risk, a heavier academic workload, and less parental supervision. Impulsivity plays a crucial role in this context, as various studies have linked it to risky behaviors, including substance use. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between impulsivity and cannabis use among students at the University of Veracruz, Mexico. Methods This study employed a quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional, and nonexperimental methodology. The sampling technique was no probabilistic, and the instruments used were the UPPS-P (impulsivity) and CAST (cannabis use) scales. Results The sample comprised 101 participants, all of whom were active users. The sex distribution included 47 females, 49 males, and 5 nonbinary individuals, with a mean age of 21.7 years (± 2.5 years). The majors with the greatest number of users were psychology (39 participants) and medicine (27 participants). Just over half of the participants (55.4%) presented a low risk of addiction, whereas only 18.8% presented a severe risk. The highest mean scores were recorded in the Sensation Seeking and Positive Urgency dimensions, with scores of 10.2 and 9.7, respectively. However, statistically significant associations were found only between levels of addiction risk and two factors: lack of perseverance and lack of premeditation. Conclusion A lack of premeditation and perseverance is significantly linked to higher risk levels for cannabis addiction among students at the University of Veracruz Health Area. These findings underscore the importance of addressing specific aspects of impulsivity in prevention programs, student counseling, and future research on risk behaviors among young university students.