Natural reduction of binge drinking among college students

Considerable evidence indicates that alcohol problems can resolve without formal treatment [Addiction 95 (2000) Clin. Psychol.: Sci. Pract. 5 (1998) 1]. Such changes, called "natural recovery," are not infrequent in the general population [Institute of Medicine. (1990). Broadening the base of treatment for alcohol problems. Washington, DC: National Academy Press]. The goal of this study was to determine if some college students with a history of binge drinking during high school reduced their bingeing without intervention while in college. A second goal was to identify individual characteristics that differentiate between current and reduced bingers. Ninety-one college students with a history of bingeing in high school and no prior drug treatment completed questionnaires about prior and current drinking. Results revealed that 22% of the students with a history of adolescent bingeing had reduced their alcohol consumption while still in college and without treatment. Key factors that differentiated between groups included marital status, church attendance, and outcome and efficacy expectancies.