Alcohol use among NTNU students 2007-19

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Student Health

Background:

• Alcohol consumption is prevalent in university settings.
• Student drinking patterns require ongoing monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in alcohol use among students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) over a 12-year period.
• To assess changes in risky alcohol consumption patterns from 2007 to 2019.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing anonymous questionnaire surveys.
• Data collected from 2,247 students at NTNU in 2007 and 2019.
• Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) used to identify risky drinking behaviors (score ≥ 8).

Main Results:

• A notable reduction in risky alcohol use was observed from 2007 to 2019.
• Average AUDIT scores decreased from 10.7 to 8.5.
• Frequency of alcohol consumption and number of drinks per occasion also declined.

Conclusions:

• Significant decrease in risky student alcohol use from 2007-2019.
• More than half of students continue to consume alcohol in ways that may pose long-term health risks.
• Continued surveillance of student alcohol consumption is warranted.