The results of the 2025 Indiana College Substance Use Survey (ICSUS) are in! With 531 students participating and a 22% response rate, the survey sheds light on patterns in substance use, mental health, and overall well-being. These results help guide our prevention efforts and how we support students.
Substance use: Alcohol’s steady decline
Alcohol is still the most commonly used substance among IU Indianapolis students. 52% of students drank in the past month (a little higher than the state average), but only 16% reported binge drinking — lower than the statewide 21%.
Alcohol use is at its lowest reported value in IU Indianapolis’ 15-year history of participating in the statewide survey, mirroring the national decline in drinking by young adults. University health and wellness initiatives, like required alcohol education for all incoming students, drunk driving prevention campaigns and the popular Sober October Challenge may also be contributing to this decrease over time.
16.1% of IU Indianapolis students reported marijuana use, which was below the statewide rate of 20% by Indiana college students in the past month. Notably, over 40% of marijuana users reported initiating use after starting college, showing why prevention during these years matter.
Less than 1% of students reported misusing prescription drugs. University programs like Health and Wellness Promotion’s free locking pill bottles help prevent these kinds of controlled substances from ending up in the wrong hands.
Improvements in mental health
Mental health continues to be an important topic on our campus. Since the last survey in 2021, we’ve seen improvements in results:
- Students reported fewer bad mental health days per month; down from 9.2 days to 8.1, which is on par with the statewide benchmark.
- Fewer students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for a two-week period in the past year (29.7% vs. 34.7% in 2021).
- 5% reported seriously considering suicide in the past year, which was also an improvement over the 2021 result (9.2%).
There isn’t one clear reason for the shifts in student mental health trends, but new campus initiatives and resources could be making a difference like the introduction of TimelyCare as a free resource for all IU students in 2023, or a strategic focus on mental health outreach by Counseling and Psychological Services. The university also received a four-year mental health grant from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction that bolstered Health and Wellness Coaching and expanded Stress Busters Week offerings.
Other areas of well-being
While 82.3% of students reported having access to affordable, healthy food, this still leaves nearly one in five students without reliable access to nutritious options. This figure highlights a critical need for food security resources, like Paws’ Pantry, to ensure that all students can focus on their education without the added stress of hunger or poor nutrition.
Sleep difficulties were reported by 59.5% of students, of which 38.1% said these issues negatively impacted their academic performance. With sleep being a cornerstone of mental and physical health, this area presents a clear opportunity for campus wellness initiatives, such as the Jagzzz Sleep Challenge. On a positive note, a majority of students reported getting between 7–9 hours of sleep on weeknights, which aligns with recommended guidelines for young adults.
Building a healthier campus together
These findings show why it’s important to keep investing in student wellness and working collaboratively across campus. IU Indianapolis’s unified approach to holistic wellness includes the 7 Elements of Wellness that guide the work of the Wellness Coalition.
Attend the coalition’s open meeting on November 13 from 3 to 4 p.m. on Zoom to join the conversation and continue moving initiatives forward.
As IU Indianapolis continues to grow and evolve, collaborative partnerships provide a pathway for creating a healthier, more supportive campus environment for all students.