Self-Reported Consequences of Intoxication Among College Students: Implications for Harm Reduction Approaches to High-Risk Drinking

• NCJ Number: 226922
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 377-387
• Author(s): Stuart Usdan Ph.D.; Ryan Martin Ph.D.; Darren Mays M.P.H.; Jennifer Cremeens Ph.D., M.S.P.H.; Jessica Aungst Weitzel M.P.H.; Jay Bernhardt Ph.D., M.P.H.
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 5R21AA013969-03
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the contexts in which alcohol use occured among college students by conducting a series of focus groups with students at two universities in the southeastern United States.

Abstract

Participants described specific incidents of heavy drinking, alcohol consumption patterns, drinking locations and environments, co-drinkers, and associated consequences experienced from drinking. Findings show that negative consequences from alcohol use often occurred when the participant consumed hard liquor and/or “pre-gamed” before going out. In addition, negative consequences were often observed during specific events and special occasions. Negative consequences were grouped into nine subcategories that included: physical illness, memory loss, academic or work consequences, consequences with relationships, emotional consequences, trouble with law enforcement or other figure of authority, impaired driving, violence, and financial consequences. More than half of the intoxication incidents involved multiple negative consequences. Incidences involving a physical consequence such as throwing up, having a hangover, violence, falling down, injury, and/or alcohol poisoning were referenced on 28 occasions. On 18 occasions, participants reported forgetting some portion of the drinking event. A greater proportion of males than females reported experiencing emotional consequences including embarrassment, anger, and getting sad or upset. Both males and females reported getting into trouble as a result of drinking, either with the police or with residence hall staff on campus. A few incidents featured positive consequences, the most common was having a good time; however, all of the positive consequences were accompanied by one or more negative consequences. Implications of the findings is the possibility of reducing negative alcohol-related consequences by tailoring health promotion and harm reduction efforts specifically toward excessive drinking of hard liquor and excessive “pre-gaming.” Data were collected from a total of 80 university students participating in 8 focus groups during the spring semester 2004. References