Infofacts Resources: Alcohol and Other Drugs on Campus-The Scope of the Problem
by Daniel Ari Kapner
This publication is also available in PDF format.
The most widespread health problem on college and university campuses in the United States is high-risk alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. Recent reports confirm that the nation’s campuses continue to encounter significant consequences as a result of this problem. This Infofacts/Resources offers an overview of the problem and highlights effective prevention approaches that many campuses are currently following.
What we know about the prevalence of high-risk AOD behaviors comes from a variety of sources, including the following:
Drinking
on Campus
College student drinking is widespread. Studies suggest
that between 1993 and 2001, approximately 44 percent of college students were
heavy drinkers, defined for men as five or more drinks in a row on at least
one occasion in the past two weeks, and for women as four or more drinks.1
In addition, drinking behavior has become increasingly polarized during the past 10 years, with more students abstaining but also more students frequently drinking heavily. The percentage of students who abstained from alcohol increased from 16 percent in 1993 to 19 percent in 2001, while the percentage of those engaged in frequent heavy drinking rose from 19.7 percent in 1993 to 22.8 percent in 2001.1 At the same time, the percentage of non–heavy drinking students decreased from 39.7 percent in 1993 to 36.3 percent in 2001, while that of occasional heavy drinkers fell from 24.3 percent in 1993 to 21.6 percent in 2001.1 Campuses should take a look at how such a polarization in drinking behavior may affect their student population.
Additionally, students report getting drunk more frequently in 2001 than in 1993. In 1993, nearly a quarter of students said they became drunk more than three times during the past 30 days; this rate increased to 29.4 percent in 2001. The percentage of students who said they drank alcohol to get drunk climbed from 39.9 percent in 1993 to 48.2 percent in 2001.1
Drinking rates vary considerably on different campuses. For instance, the 2000 CAS report suggests that campuses in the Northeast and the Midwest have higher rates of drinking than campuses elsewhere.2 In addition, drinking varies among different populations on campus. Men are more likely to drink heavily than are women.1 According to a 1999 study by the Core Institute, fraternity members and athletes are more likely to drink heavily and to suffer negative consequences than are other groups on campus.3 White students are much more likely to drink heavily (50.2 percent) than are students of other ethnicities, such as Hispanic (34.4 percent), Native American Indian/Other (33.6 percent), Asian/Pacific Islander (26.2 percent), and black/African American (21.7 percent).1
The Core Institute suggests that students at historically black colleges and universities drink less than students at predominantly white institutions do.4 Few studies have examined AOD use among students with disabilities or among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, areas where the research community could focus more attention.
Consequences of Alcohol Use
The consequences that both drinking and nondrinking students suffer due to alcohol
use are even more alarming. Compiling results from a number of general health
surveys, NIAAA’s A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking
at U.S. Colleges estimates that, as a result of alcohol use, every year:5
Drinking on campus undermines the mission of higher education, with heavy drinking leading to a decline in academic performance. The NIAAA reports that about 25 percent of college students report academic problems caused by alcohol use, such as earning lower grades, doing poorly on exams or papers, missing class, and falling behind.5 Several AOD prevention experts suggest that heavy drinking can have a negative effect on the institution as a whole, reducing retention rates, increasing expenses from incidents of vandalism, and branding the institution a “party school.” This “party school” image may encourage more alcohol-related problems, as it attracts students who choose to be in high-risk settings. For example, researchers have found fraternities to be a social setting that draws students who desire to be in heavy drinking environments.6
Secondary
Effects of Alcohol Use
Students who abstain or are moderate drinkers frequently suffer from the behavior
of other students who drink heavily. Even though the majority of college and
university students are not heavy drinkers, with nearly one-fifth abstaining
from all alcohol use, more than three-quarters of the students living in residence
halls, fraternities, or sororities report that they have experienced at least
one secondary effect due to another student’s drinking.1
Following are prominent secondary effects reported by students who live on campus or in sorority or fraternity houses and who abstain or drink moderately:1
The NIAAA report estimates that alcohol is involved in 600,000 assaults and 70,000 cases of sexual assault, including acquaintance rape, among college and university students in the United States each year.5 One study found that alcohol is one of the most significant contributors to sexual aggression among male college students.7
Alcohol is also associated with riots, hazing, and various forms of nonsexual violence on campus. Student riots have become a serious problem for campuses, usually taking place following sporting events or after new campus alcohol policies are created.8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Riots pose challenges for campus administrators and law enforcement officers and can lead to unexpected economic burdens.13 Numerous campus riots point to alcohol as a key contributing factor.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Community
Consequences of Alcohol Use
Communities neighboring campuses also experience the secondary effects of college
student drinking. Studies show that those living within one mile of a campus
are much more likely to report alcohol-related noise and disturbances, vandalism,
public drunkenness, and vomit and public urination by students on their property
than are people living more than one mile from a campus.15
Neighborhoods closer to campus have a much higher density of alcohol outlets than neighborhoods farther from campus.15 Fully 92.1 percent of neighborhood residents within one mile of campus and 74.9 percent of those more than one mile from campus report the presence of a nearby alcohol outlet. These outlets are especially abundant near campuses that have higher levels of heavy drinking.15 A reduction in the number of alcohol outlets near campuses may significantly lower the secondary effects experienced by individuals residing in those areas.15
Other Drugs
A considerable number of students use other drugs. Monitoring the Future (MTF),
based on a survey of 1,350 college and university students, reported that the
following percentage of students used illicit drugs on at least one occasion
in 2001:16
MTF reports a significant rise in the annual use of the club drug ecstasy among college students, from 2.4 percent in 1991 to 9.2 percent in 2001.16 Other club drugs of concern, especially for their use as predatory drugs, are gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), rohypnol, and ketamine. While major studies have not yet included these drugs in their survey of college student AOD use, due to their recent emergence, numerous reports by law enforcement agencies and the media demonstrate that indeed they are a part of college culture and lead to harmful consequences.17 In addition, the media has devoted recent attention to “wet” or “fry,” tobacco or marijuana cigarettes that are dipped in formaldehyde and PCP.18
While students use illegal drugs at much lower rates than alcohol, illicit drug use has led to serious tragedies, including violence, sexual assault and rape, hospitalization for overdoses, and premature death. Campus prevention specialists, therefore, should address recent trends in illicit drug use when designing their prevention and treatment programs.
What Campuses
Are Doing to Address Alcohol and Other Drug Problems
Institutions of higher education are increasingly implementing creative programs
and aggressive policies to curb AOD use and its associated negative consequences.
Many campuses and communities have begun comprehensive prevention approaches
that go beyond traditional educational programs to emphasize strategies aimed
at changing the physical, social, legal, and economic environment on campus
and in surrounding communities.
Under the banner of environmental management, the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention recommends the following key environmental strategies:19
AOD use is a community as well as a campus problem, and campuses and communities need to collaborate to address it.20 Because college presidents are most influential in creating change on campus, their active and visible efforts can be very effective in bringing together faculty, administrators, staff, students, parents, alumni, and local community members to develop and implement strong, effective policies and programs.21
References
1. Wechsler, H.; Lee, J. E.; Kuo, M; Seibring, M; Nelson, T. F.; and Lee, H.
“Trends in College Binge Drinking during a Period of Increased Prevention
Efforts: Findings from 4 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study
Surveys, 1993–2001.” Journal of American College Health 50: 203–217,
2002. For more information on CAS, visit www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/.
2. Wechsler, H.; Lee, J. E.; Kuo, M; Seibring, M; and Lee, H. “College Binge Drinking in the 1990s: A Continuing Problem—Results of the Harvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study.” Journal of American College Health 48(10): 199–210, 2000.
3. Meilman, P. W.; Leichliter, J. S.; and Presley, C. A. “Greeks and Athletes: Who Drinks More?” Journal of American College Health 47: 187–190, 1999. For more information on the Core Institute’s studies, visit www.siu.edu/~coreinst/.
4. Meilman, P. W.; Presley, C. A.; and Cashin, J. R. “The Sober Social Life at Historically Black Colleges.” Journal of Blacks in Higher Education 9: 98–100, 1995.
5. Task Force of the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges (Washington, D.C.: National Institutes of Health, 2002). For more information on the report, visit www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/.
6. Borsari, B. E., and Carey, K. B. “Understanding Fraternity Drinking: Five Recurring Themes in the Literature, 1980–1998.” Journal of American College Health 48(1): 30, 1999.
7. Koss, M. P., and Gaines, J. A. “The Prediction of Sexual Aggression by Alcohol Use, Athletic Participation, and Fraternity Affiliation.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 8(1): 94–108, 1993.
8. The Silver Gate Group. Rites of Spring: Exploring Strategies for System Change (A White Paper Prepared for Drugs Don’t Work! The Governor’s Prevention Partnership), 2000.
9. O’Toole, T. “‘Celebratory Riots’ Creating Crisis on Campus.” USA Today, 9 April 2002.
10. Strauss, V. “College Towns, School Officials Seek End to Post-Game Rioting; String of Disturbances Part of Growing Trend, Observers Say.” Washington Post, 4 April 2001.
11. Axtman, K. “Colleges Struggle to Stem Rioting after Games.” Christian Science Monitor, 29 November 2002.
12. White, J. “JMU President Seeks Answers to Riot.” Washington Post, 29 August 2000.
13. Zimmerman, R. “Alcohol and Student Disruptions on Campus.” Catalyst 5(1): 6–7, 1999.
14. For more information about violence prevention on campus, see the Higher Education Center’s Web site at www.higheredcenter.org/violence/.
15. Wechsler, H.; Eun Lee, J.; Hall, J.; Wagenaar, A. C.; and Lee, H. “Secondhand Effects of Student Alcohol Use Reported by Neighbors of Colleges: The Role of Alcohol Outlets.” Social Sciences & Medicine 55: 425–435, 2002.
16. Johnston, L. D.; O’Malley, P. M.; and Bachman, J. G. Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2001. Volume I I: College Students & Adults Ages 19-40 (Bethesda, Md.: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2002). For more information on Monitoring the Future, visit www.monitoringthefuture.org/.
17. For more information on club drugs, see the National Criminal Justice Reference Service Web page Club Drugs Resources—Facts and Figures at www.ncjrs.org/club_drugs/facts.html. Also see the Higher Education Center’s Web page on club drugs at www.higheredcenter.org/drugs/.
18. For more information on this drug, see “CNN Presents: Fried: A Dangerous New Street Drug” (November 10, 2002) at www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/presents/index.fried.html.
19. DeJong, W.; Vince-Whitman; C.; Colthurst, T.; Cretella, M.; Gilbreath, M.; Rosati, M.; and Zweig, K. Environmental Management: A Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Alcohol and Other Drug Use on College Campuses (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, 1998).
20. DeJong, W., and Epstein J. C. Strategizer 34: Working in Partnership with Local Colleges and Universities (Alexandria, Va.: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, 2000).
21. Presidents Leadership Group. Be Vocal, Be Visible, Be Visionary: Recommendations for College and University Presidents on Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention (Newton, Mass.: Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, 1997).
The Higher Education Center for
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and
Violence Prevention
The U.S. Department of Education’s The Higher Education Center for
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and
Violence Prevention is the nation’s primary resource center for
AOD and violence prevention professionals at U.S. colleges and universities.
The Center offers an integrated array of services to help campuses and communities
come together to identify problems in their areas; assess needs; and plan, implement,
and evaluate AOD prevention programs.
For additional information, contact:
The Higher Education Center for
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and
Violence Prevention
Education Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02458-1060
www.higheredcenter.org/
(800) 676-1730; TDD Relay-Friendly, Dial 711
Fax: (617) 928-1537
HigherEdCtr@edc.org
Other Organizations
National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
11426-28 Rockville Pike, Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20852
(800) 729-6686
www.health.org/
NCADI is the information service
of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NCADI is the world’s largest resource clearinghouse for current information
and materials concerning substance abuse. NCADI distributes publications and
other materials on substance abuse from various federal government agencies
(e.g., study reports, surveys, guides, videocassettes), many of which are free
of charge. NCADI offers resources on illicit drugs, alcohol and alcoholism,
and subpopulations in the United States.
National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
6000 Executive Boulevard, Willco Building
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
www.niaaa.nih.gov/
(301) 496-4000
NIAAA supports and conducts biomedical and behavioral research on the causes,
consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems.
In 2002, NIAAA’s Task Force on College Drinking published the first National
Institutes of Health report on college drinking, A Call to Action: Changing
the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges. The report reveals new findings on
the extent and nature of the problem, reviews the current research literature,
and provides guidance to college presidents, administrators, and other policymakers
on effective programs and policies. NIAAA offers a Web site on college drinking
prevention: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/.
The Network: Addressing Collegiate
Alcohol and Other Drug Issues
c/o The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and
Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention
Education Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02458-1060
www.higheredcenter.org/network/
The Network (formerly known as the Network of Colleges and Universities Committed
to the Elimination of Drug and Alcohol Abuse) is a national consortium of colleges
and universities formed to promote healthy campus environments by addressing
the issues of alcohol, other drugs, and violence. Begun in 1987 by the U.S.
Department of Education, The Network comprises member institutions that voluntarily
agree to adhere to a set of standards aimed at reducing AOD problems at colleges
and universities. It has close to 1,500 members nationwide. The Network develops
collaborative alcohol and other drug prevention efforts among colleges and universities
through electronic information exchange, printed materials, and sponsorship
of national, regional, and state activities and conferences.
Daniel Ari Kapner is a writer/researcher at the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.
This publication was funded by the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education under contracts number ED-99-CO-0094 and ED-04-CO- 0137 with Education Development Center, Inc. The contracting officer’s representative was Richard Lucey, Jr. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government. This publication also contains hyperlinks and URLs for information created and maintained by private organizations. This information is provided for the reader’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education is not responsible for controlling or guaranteeing the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of information or a hyperlink or URL does not reflect the importance of the organization, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered.
Last Update: April 18, 2006