Survey on the Knowledge, Perception and Use of CBD Among UT Tyler Students

A 2019 Gallup poll found that 14% of Americans say they use CBD products, with use being higher among younger individuals aged 18-29 at 20%. Local data on CBD use in East Texas and among university students has not been gathered. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, prevalence, and preference of CBD use among UT Tyler students. A Qualtrics survey was created and distributed via email to all UT Tyler students from November to December 2020. This study was approved by the UT Tyler IRB. 689 students completed the survey (7.2%) with 47.9% of respondents stating they have used CBD in the past. When asked to rate their knowledge of CBD on a scale from 1-10 (with 10 being expert), the median response was 5 for respondents. The top 2 most commonly used dosage forms were cream/lotion (n=161) and oral oil (n=151). The top 2 reasons for CBD use were general health/well-being (n=226) and a medical condition (n=135). The top 2 medical conditions treated with CBD were pain (n=91) and anxiety (n=88). Almost half of the respondents stated they previously used CBD, which is higher than past national surveys. Cream/lotion and oral oil were the most preferred products. However, the median self assessed knowledge level of CBD was only 5 on a scale from 1-10. Further studies should be done in larger populations and in other university settings.