Parental misperceptions of incoming student use of alcohol and other drugs.

Abstract: 

This study concludes that parental perceptions of college student drinking and intent to drink during the first year of college are much different than the actual use and intent to use by first-time, first-year students. Parental perceptions and their students’ actual use significantly differed not only regarding alcohol, but also tobacco, marijuana, and other illegal drug use. There were 1,399 parents or guardians who completed all or part of the 13-item parent survey designed to measure parent perceptions of their student’s alcohol and other drug use. Two instruments were used for this data collection, Student Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Survey and Parent Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Survey. To engage parents more, campuses are beginning to expand intervention and prevention efforts by encouraging parental involvement. Parents must be educated on their role in alcohol and other drug education and prevention efforts for their college student. This must include information on how to talk to students about alcohol and other drugs before coming to campus and after they arrive.