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College alcohol use: a full or empty glass?
H Wechsler1, B E Molnar, A E Davenport
1College Alcohol Studies, Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Behavior, Boston, MA 02115, USA. hwecsle@hsph.harvard.edu
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|June 16, 1999
Summary
Frequent binge drinking among college students drives high alcohol consumption and related problems. A "one size fits all" approach to college alcohol use may not be effective due to varying behavioral norms.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- College alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding patterns of alcohol use and associated problems is crucial for intervention development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe weekly alcohol consumption and associated problems among a national sample of college students.
- To identify the prevalence of different drinking patterns, including binge drinking.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1993 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study.
- Analyzed weekly alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in a representative national sample of college students.
Main Results:
- The median weekly alcohol consumption was 1.5 drinks for all students.
- Frequent binge drinkers consumed a median of 14.5 drinks/week and accounted for 68% of total alcohol consumption.
- One in five college students were identified as frequent binge drinkers, experiencing the majority of alcohol-related problems.
Conclusions:
- Binge drinking is a primary driver of alcohol consumption and problems among college students.
- Significant variation exists in alcohol consumption behaviors and norms across different student populations and institutions.
- A "one size fits all" intervention strategy for college alcohol use is unlikely to be effective.