Content provided in partnership with

Binge drinking remains prevalent on college campuses - Clinical Issues - Brief Article

The Harvard School for Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS) classifies 44% of college students in 2001 as "binge drinkers," according to a March 25, 2002, news release from the school. This percentage remains approximately the same as those found in previous CAS surveys conducted in 1993, 1997, and 1999, indicating that excessive drinking remains prevalent on college campuses. The survey defines a binge drinker as a man who had five or more alcoholic drinks in a row or a woman who had four or more alcoholic drinks in a row at least once in the two weeks before completing the survey questionnaire. Frequent binge drinkers are defined as those having consumed these amounts at least three times in the previous two-week period.

Most Popular Articles in Health: Fuel your workout: exercisers who eat before they work out have more energy ...; Soothe a dry, itchy scalp: 5 easy expert solutions; Cocktails and calories: Beer, wine and liquor calories can really add up. ...; The sour truth about apple cider vinegar - evaluation of therapeutic use; The, six best supplements you've never heard of: these secret weapons can ...; More »

One survey finding is a trend toward increased binge drinking at women's schools, from 24% in 1993 to 32% in 2001. Frequent binge drinking increased from 5% to 12% for the same period. Five all-women's colleges were included in the survey.

Underage students (ie, under age 21) drank 48% of the total amount of alcohol reportedly consumed by all undergraduate students. The extent of underage drinking varied by school and was influenced by factors such as whether the school is located in an area with key laws regulating underage drinking or restricting the volume of alcohol sold. Underage students living with their parents or in substance-free dorms are less likely to binge drink; however, 50% of those living off campus without their parents and 51% living in unrestricted dorms do binge drink. Nearly 75% of students living in sorority or fraternity houses are binge drinkers, according to the release.

Despite these findings, some positive trends were identified from the survey results.

* Reported high school binge drinking decreased 19% with 26% of students in 2001 reporting they had been binge drinkers in high school, down from 32% in 1993.

* A large number of students, 65% reported living in substance-free housing.

* Only 25% of students reported belonging to fraternities or sororities, which often are at the center of binge drinking on campus.

* More students reported having been exposed to educational materials designed to prevent binge drinking.

The fact that the percentage of binge drinkers has remained stable despite these trends indicates that other factors affect whether a college student becomes a binge drinker. The study indicates that interventions such as decreasing the availability of alcohol to underage students, limiting marketing and promotion of alcohol to students, and raising alcohol prices may be effective in reducing binge drinking.

The survey, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes responses from more than 10,000 full-time students at the same 119 four-year colleges that participated in the previous studies. The colleges are located in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

College Binge Drinking Rate 44 Percent; Remains the Same Eight Years Running: Positive Trends Fail to Bring Down Binge Drinking Rate, According to Harvard College Alcohol Study (news release, Boston: Harvard School of Public Health, March 25, 2002) http://www.hsph.harvardedu./cas/Documents/trends-pressRelease/ (accessed 4 April 2002).

Health Care Industry

Binge drinking remains prevalent on college campuses - Clinical Issues - Brief Article

AORN Journal, June, 2002

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Reference

Most Popular Articles in Health

Most Popular Publications in Health