About

Amelia Arria is a Professor and the Director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She also serves as the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives. Her research focuses on substance use and untreated mental health problems among adolescents and young adults, with a particular emphasis on the connection between behavioral health and human capital. She has studied the risk and resiliency factors associated with mental health and substance use issues, and her recent work has clarified the impact of substance use, including excessive drinking and marijuana use, on academic achievement. Dr. Arria is the Principal Investigator of the NIDA-funded College Life Study, which assesses the behavioral health of college students throughout their young adult years. She is also a co-leader of the Maryland Collaborative, providing training and technical assistance to colleges to align their substance use prevention and intervention strategies with scientific evidence. She has authored over 185 peer-reviewed publications and has received several major grant awards. Her work has direct relevance to parents, communities, educational professionals, and policymakers. She completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University, earned a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed postdoctoral training in Psychiatric Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Social psychology
• Nursing
• Pedagogy
• Family medicine
• Medical education

Selected publications

• Prevalence of On-Campus Student Mental Health Services at U.S. Colleges and Universities: A Web-Based Analysis

  Psychiatric Services · 2025-02-06 · 4 citations

  articleSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to quantify the proportion of U.S. postsecondary institutions that offer any on-campus mental health services to their students. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data about the availability and descriptions of mental health services were gathered from websites of a main sample of 200 postsecondary institutions other than community colleges and a sample of 50 community colleges. Both samples were selected through a stratified sampling process. Descriptive statistics, weighted (main sample) and unweighted percentages, and confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: In the main sample, 191 institutions (95%, 95% CI=91%-98%) offered mental health services. Among community colleges, 40 (80%, 95% CI=69%-91%) offered such services. In both the main and community college samples, most institutions (92% and 75%, respectively) used "counseling" to describe the services offered. CONCLUSIONS: Extrapolation of these results suggests that >1,700 U.S. postsecondary institutions offer mental health services, making campus services a sizeable mental health services sector.

  PublisherDOI

• Associations between college enrollment and trends in substance use among young adults in the US from 2015 to 2019

  The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse · 2024-11-19 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author

  College enrollment is most strongly associated with prescription stimulant misuse, suggesting that colleges should consider explicitly including stimulant misuse prevention in their health promotion strategies. The increasing use of cannabis among females warrants clinicians' attention to routine screening for use and provision of information about the mental health impacts of cannabis.

  PublisherDOI

• ADHD Assessment and Treatment Services in a Sample of U.S. Colleges and Universities

  Psychiatric Services · 2024-09-11 · 6 citations

  articleSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: Up to 2 million college students in the United States have been diagnosed as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition associated with negative academic, social, and psychiatric outcomes. The authors investigated the online availability and content of policies governing ADHD services at college clinics. METHODS: Using a stratified sample of 200 colleges and universities, the authors reviewed clinic websites and invited clinical staff to participate in a survey. They weighted percentages to account for oversampling and used regression modeling to examine associations with policy availability. RESULTS: Only 70 institutions (32%, weighted percentage) provided information about ADHD services online. Institutions with <1,000 students had significantly lower odds of providing information online (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.04, 95% CI=0.01-0.26), as did institutions that accepted >67% of applicants (AOR=0.18, 95% CI=0.07-0.48). After merging data from the Web review and survey, the authors noted that 14% (N=11 of 75 institutions with data available for this variable) facilitated neuropsychological assessments on campus, 49% (N=33 of 72) did not allow stimulant medications to be prescribed, 73% (N=43 of 61) did not offer clinical evaluations for ADHD, and 89% (N=32 of 35) required a neuropsychological assessment to receive prescription stimulants. CONCLUSIONS: Information about the assessment and management of ADHD is rarely available online, and ADHD services on U.S. college campuses appear to be limited.

  PublisherDOI

• Harms from others' drinking among college students: Prevalence and risk factors, 2022

  Drug and Alcohol Review · 2024-12-17 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: Alcohol's harms to others (AHTO) refers to the negative effects experienced by individuals other than the drinker. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of AHTOs among US college students (sophomores/juniors), based on the first national probability-based survey conducted in 20 years. METHODS: We assessed AHTOs in the fall of 2021 from 1918 participants across 46 US schools, weighting the data to reflect the US undergraduate sophomore/junior population. We combined survey weights and prevalence estimates to approximate the number of sophomores/juniors in the US college population who experienced each AHTO. Once weighted, the sampling method was designed to be representative of sophomores/juniors. We used multivariate logistic regression with clustered standard errors to estimate the likelihood of each AHTO domain and any AHTO for demographic and behavioural risk and protective factors. RESULTS: Half (53.5%) of our sample reported experiencing at least one AHTO, which corresponds to nearly 6 million US sophomores/juniors. Students who were White; attended 4-year schools; identified as cisfemale or transgender, gender nonconforming, or 2+ identities; of higher socioeconomic status (as indicated by parent's highest level of education); lived with roommates; and/or participated in Greek organisations or intercollegiate athletics had a higher likelihood of AHTOs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that AHTOs, including academic, physical and sexual harms, are prevalent on college campuses. These results suggest that colleges likely underestimate the impact of alcohol on their students. Therefore, broadening and strengthening campus and state-level policies and strategies to prevent and reduce these harms effectively are needed.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Alcohol's Collateral Damage: Harms From Others' Drinking Are Linked to Academic and Mental Health Challenges Among U.S. College Students

  Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · 2024-12-12 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: More than half of U.S. college students are harmed by the drinkers around them. If findings from research on adults generalize to college students, then there will be consequences associated with these alcohol-related harms to others (AHTOs). This study aimed to determine whether harms from others' drinking were associated with key academic and mental health indicators of the college experience. METHOD: = 1,822, 64.9% cisfemale, 68.6% White, 11.3% Black, 15.6% Hispanic/Latinx) conducted October-November 2021. Predictors included domains of five AHTOs: harassment, physical, sexual, academic, and babysitting drinkers. Six binary outcomes included (a) satisfied with college, (b) satisfied with academic performance, (c) grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or greater, (d) depression, (e) suicidal ideation, and (f) mental distress. RESULTS: Harassment AHTOs were associated with lower college satisfaction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.57, 95% CI [0.38, 0.84]) and suicidal ideation (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.08, 2.82]). Physical AHTOs were associated with lower odds of academic satisfaction (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.19, 0.59]) and GPA of 3.0 or greater (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.22, 0.83]). Academic AHTOs were associated with lower odds of being satisfied with college (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.14, 0.52]) and one's academic performance (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.14, 0.50]) and higher odds of mental distress (aOR = 2.27, 95% CI [1.31, 3.94]). Finally, sexual AHTOs were associated with higher odds of depression (aOR = 2.77, 95% CI [1.34, 5.77]). CONCLUSIONS: AHTOs are associated with mental health and academic challenges on college campuses. Longitudinal studies should investigate whether these associations persist over time.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Implementation of a computerized tool to address barriers to academic success among college students

  Journal of American College Health · 2024-03-05

  article1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: Academic assistance professionals work with college students to address barriers to academic success, although few assessment tools exist. This feasibility study examined the results of implementing a computerized tool for academic assistance professionals to help students. The Measure of Obstacles to Succeeding Academically in College (MOSAIC) is a 31-item risk assessment tool used to characterize academic barriers. It utilizes a tailored computer algorithm on a mobile device to match students with resources to address academic barriers. METHODS: The MOSAIC was customized and administered at seven universities around the United States. Student responses were analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Academic assistance professionals were asked about implementation in unstructured interviews. RESULTS: Stress and study skill concerns were the most reported barriers. The MOSAIC was well received, especially among students experiencing academic difficulties, but integration into routine workflow was an obstacle to sustained implementation. CONCLUSIONS: The MOSAIC holds promise in addressing issues impeding academic success.

  PublisherDOI

• Self-Reported Disability Type and Risk of Alcohol-Induced Death – A Longitudinal Study Using Nationally Representative Data

  Substance Use & Misuse · 2024-04-18 · 3 citations

  article

  BACKGROUND: Disability is associated with alcohol misuse and drug overdose death, however, its association with alcohol-induced death remains understudied. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the risk of alcohol-induced death among adults with different types of disabilities in a nationally representative longitudinal sample of US adults. METHODS: = 3,324,000). Baseline data were collected in 2008 and mortality outcomes were ascertained through 2019 using the National Death Index. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for the association between disability type and alcohol-induced death, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic covariates. RESULTS: During a maximum of 12 years of follow-up, 4000 alcohol-induced deaths occurred in the study population. In descending order, the following disability types displayed the greatest risk of alcohol-induced death (compared to adults without disability): complex activity limitation (aHR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.3-2.3), vision limitation (aHR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.2-2.0), mobility limitation (aHR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.3-1.7), ≥2 limitations (aHR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.3-1.6), cognitive limitation (aHR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0-1.4), and hearing limitation (aHR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.9-1.3). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of alcohol-induced death varies considerably by disability type. Efforts to prevent alcohol-induced deaths should be tailored to meet the needs of the highest-risk groups, including adults with complex activity (i.e., activities of daily living - "ALDs"), vision, mobility, and ≥2 limitations. Early diagnosis and treatment of alcohol use disorder within these populations, and improved access to educational and occupational opportunities, should be considered as prevention strategies for alcohol-induced deaths.

  PublisherDOI

• The risk of drug overdose death among adults with select types of disabilities in the United States – A longitudinal study using nationally representative data

  Preventive Medicine · 2023-12-07 · 7 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• “It Just Felt Nice to be Able to Scream”: A Qualitative Examination of the Experiences of College Students Participating in the Black Lives Matter Movement

  Journal of Adolescent Research · 2023-10-11 · 1 citations

  article

  This study was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the role of emotions within protest experiences among college students. The study sample consisted of 18 undergraduate students aged 18 to 25 who participated in the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement protests. Within the sample, the majority of the participants identified as female (61.11%, n = 11) and were Black (38.89%, n = 7). In-depth interviews were conducted, and subsequent data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings distinguished four themes: (1) emotions as motivators for protest participation, (2) emotional residence during protests, and (3) identity development and the way ahead. A substantial portion of the participants experienced negative emotions following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, which motivated them to participate in protests. Interestingly, the majority of participants described experiencing positive emotions, including empowerment and hope, while at the protest sites. The protest elements: chanting, listening to protest speakers, and being in community with others were the source of positive emotions. Most participants described protesting as a momentary emotional release. These findings demonstrate that protesting does impact student emotional well-being and is an adaptive emotion-focused coping strategy for negative feelings garnered by the sociopolitical climate.

  PublisherDOI

• Drug and alcohol use disorders among adults with select disabilities: The national survey on drug use and health

  Disability and health journal · 2023-03-24 · 16 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant P50DA027841

  NIH · $23.0M · 2017

• NIH Grant R56DA014845

  NIH · $321k · 2009

• NIH Grant R01DA024658

  NIH · $953k · 2012

• NIH Grant R01DA014845

  NIH · $5.7M · 2015

• NIH Grant R03AA019563

  NIH · $126k · 2013

Frequent coauthors

• Kevin E. O’Grady

  University of Maryland, College Park

  143 shared

• Kathryn B. Vincent

  University of Maryland, College Park

  136 shared

• Kimberly M. Caldeira

  University of Maryland, College Park

  116 shared

• Lynne M. Smith

  Harbor–UCLA Medical Center

  71 shared

• Hendrée E. Jones

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  70 shared

• Mara G. Coyle

  Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

  64 shared

• Susan M. Stine

  Wayne State University

  54 shared

• Karol Kaltenbach

  Max Rubner Institut

  54 shared

Awards & honors

• The Visionary Award: For Outstanding Contributions to Youth…
• Fellow Award, Mary Christie Foundation
• Research Leader, University of Maryland College Park