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...on substance abuse and the college campus
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www.ProjectCork.org
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Summer 2006
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Purging and alcohol-related effects in college women.
Adams TB; Araas TE. International Journal of Eating Disorders 39(3): 240-244, 2006. (13 refs.)
Objective: Previous research indicates that college students who purge are more likely to consume alcohol in an unhealthy manner. The current study replicates and extends a previous study but employs a much larger, national sample. This study addresses 2 questions: (a) Are 18-24-year-old college women who purge more likely to engage in high-risk alcohol behavior? (b) Are 18-24-year-old alcohol-drinking college women who purge more likely to report greater negative consequences of alcohol use. Method: 47,202 U.S. students completed the National College Health Assessment during Spring 2004. Alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences were compared in purging and non-purging groups. Results: Respondents who purged reported heavier alcohol use and more negative consequences. Conclusion: The current study expands previous research regarding the association between purging behaviors and consequences of alcohol use. Further research is necessary to elucidate the most effective prevention and treatment programs. Copyright 2006, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Screening and brief intervention for alcohol problems in a university student health clinic.
Ehrlich PF; Haque A; Swisher-McClure S; Helmkamp J. Journal of American College Health 54(5): 279-287, 2006. (36 refs.)
The purposes of this study were (1) to determine whether a university student health center (SHC) is a feasible location to introduce a campus-based screening and brief intervention (SBI) program for alcohol and (2) to determine whether the patients seen in the SHC differ in terms of the prevalence and severity of alcohol-related problems compared with students reported by emergency department programs. The authors used motivational interview techniques to counsel subjects from a convenience sample of patients waiting for medical treatment in the SHC who had screened positive with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The authors interviewed patients again after 3 months. Seventy-five percent of eligible students participated. Sixty percent screened positive and received an intervention. The authors contacted 66 students (51.2%) again after 3 months. Seventy-five percent of students interviewed again after 3 months reported that SBI was helpful, 92% found the information clear, and 90% thought that the SHC was a good place to learn this information.
Copyright 2006, American College Health Association.
Patterns of cannabis use and positive and negative experiences of use amongst university students.
Hammersley R; Leon V. Addiction Research & Theory 14(2): 189-205, 2006. (46 refs.)
Aims. To examine cannabis users' patterns of use, their experiences of the positive and negative effects of use, their use of other substances and possible health risks, in the context of increased prevalence of use. Methods. A snowball sample of student cannabis users in the South East England (n = 176) were interviewed with an extensive structured questionnaire that asked about frequency of use of cannabis, of other substances, of methods of use and of positive and negative effects of use. Findings. There were two common types of users; casual users who did not buy cannabis often and regular users who often bought cannabis and used it most days. Fewer users bought cannabis often and used it in a more controlled pattern. The effects of use were similar to those described by Tart [ Tart, C. T. ( 1970). Marijuana Intoxication: Common Experiences. Nature, 226, 701 - 704], being predominantly positive and about relaxation and sensuality, although negative effects on mood and cognition were also experienced. Users tended to mix cannabis, tobacco and alcohol more than mixing with other drugs. The biggest health risk posed was tobacco use. Regular users showed more signs of dependence than casual or controlled users. Being in a road traffic accident whilst intoxicated was a strong predictor of other signs of dependence. Signs of dependence did not predict heavy use, which was instead most strongly predicted by seeing cannabis as one of life's main pleasures. Conclusions. Cannabis use has normalised, not all users use in problematic ways and use is moving away from other controlled drugs and towards alcohol and tobacco in a number of respects. There needs to be initiative to dissuade cannabis users from smoking tobacco. As with alcohol, those involved in accidents need to be questioned about their cannabis use and referred to drug services as required. Interventions for heavy cannabis use and dependence should be sensitive to the positive aspects of heavy use. Copyright 2006, Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Comparison between a cognitive behavioural alcohol programme and post-mailed minimal intervention in high-risk drinking university freshmen: Results from a randomized controlled trial.
Johnson KO; Berglund M. Alcohol and Alcoholism 41(2): 174-180, 2006. (39 refs.)
Aim: Examine the effect of a 10 h intervention programme compared with post-mailed minimal intervention (PMMI) given to high-risk alcohol-drinking university freshmen in a random design. Method: In total 693 freshmen at the Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University, Sweden were included in the study. A cognitive behavioural alcohol program (CBAP) or PMMI was given to high-risk drinking freshmen (n = 177) in a randomized design. A 10-item screening instrument, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), was used before and 1 year after the intervention programmes were given. Results: There were no significant differences between the CBAP and the PMMI groups. Both groups declined their AUDIT scores with -1.7 [CI 95% -2.6, -0.7] and -2.7 [CI 95% -3.6, -1.7], respectively which could be explained by effects of regression to the mean. Conclusion: No significant differences between the groups were found. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Misperceptions of college student marijuana use: Implications for prevention.
Kilmer JR; Walker DD; Lee CM; Palmer RS; Mallett KA; Fabiano P et al.Journal of Studies on Alcohol 67(2): 277-281, 2006. (22 refs.)
Objective: This study investigates the relationship between marijuana use, perceived norms of use by friends and students in general, and negative experiences or problems from alcohol and drug use. It was hypothesized that students would overestimate the marijuana use of students in general and that perceptions about the prevalence of marijuana use would be related to drug-related consequences. Method: In this study, 5,990 participants provided information on the perceptions and consequences of drug use via an online survey or via a paper-based surveys Results: Although two thirds of participants reported no marijuana use, 98% of respondents incorrectly predicted that students in general use marijuana at least once per year. Perceptions of use by friends and students in general accounted for variance in drug use and related problems or experiences. Conclusions: Given the relationship between norm misperception and behavior with marijuana use, future research could explore the impact of targeting misperceived norms through prevention and intervention efforts. Copyright 2006, Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc. Used with permission.
Heads UP! A nested intervention with freshmen male college students and the broader campus community to promote responsible drinking.
LaBrie JW; Pedersen ER; Lamb TF; Bove L. Journal of American College Health 54(5): 301-304, 2006. (16 refs.)
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism developed several guidelines for effective interventions in dealing with problematic college student drinking, including targeted individual interventions paired with broader campus community involvement. The project Heads UP! combines these suggestions in an effort to intervene with high-risk first-year male college students. The objective of the program is to reduce campus alcohol-related negative events and prevent these high-risk students from developing dangerous drinking patterns throughout college. The project provides an environment that supports students in actively following the goals outlined by the intervention, and it actively impacts the overall campus by helping students make responsible drinking decisions. Promising results are forthcoming, and the authors encourage other universities to design and adopt similar campus-supported programs nested within the broader campus community that target high-risk populations on campus. Copyright 2006, American College Health Association.
Do we learn from our mistakes? An examination of the impact of negative alcohol-related consequences on college students' drinking patterns and perceptions.
Mallett KA; Lee CM; Neighbors C; Larimer ME; Turrisi R. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 67(2): 269-276, 2006. (41 refs.)
Objective: Little research has examined antecedents of specific drinking consequences (vomiting, regretted sex, hangover, blackouts) among college students. This research examined how students' experiences of past consequences relate to their beliefs of experiencing similar consequences in the future and how these beliefs relate to current drinking patterns. Method: Self-reported past drinking behavior and resulting consequences associated with specific occasions were assessed among 303 (66% women) college students. Students also estimated number of drinks associated with risk of experiencing future similar consequences. Results: Paired-samples t tests indicated that students significantly overestimated the number of drinks it would take to vomit, have unwanted sexual experiences, experience hangovers, and black out in comparison with the actual self-reported number of drinks consumed the last time identical consequences were experienced. In addition, a series of multiple-regression analyses revealed that greater misperceptions between the perceived and actual number of drinks associated with each type of consequence were consistently associated with heavier drinking. Conclusions: Results suggest that heavier-drinking students do not learn from their mistakes but instead overestimate the amount of alcohol they can consume without experiencing negative consequences. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of augmenting brief interventions aimed at heavy-drinking college students. Copyright 2006, Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc. Used with permission.
Medical use, illicit use, and diversion of abusable prescription drugs.
McCabe SE; Teter CJ; Boyd CJ. Journal of American College Health 54(5): 269-278, 2006. (54 refs.)
The authors investigated the medical use, illicit use, and diversion of 4 distinct classes of abusable prescription medication (sleeping medication, sedative or anxiety medication, stimulant medication, and pain medication) in a random sample of undergraduate students. In spring 2003, 9,161 undergraduate students attending a large, public, midwestern research university in the United States self-administered a Web-based survey. The prevalence rate for illicit use within the past year was highest for pain medication, followed by stimulant medication, sedative or anxiety medication, and sleeping medication. Women generally reported higher past-year medical use rates. However, undergraduate men reported higher illicit use rates. The illicit use-medical use ratio for stimulant medication was the highest among the 4 classes of prescription drugs. Medical users of stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were the most likely to be approached to divert their medication. Multivariate results indicated that illicit users of prescription drugs were more likely to use other drugs than were students who did not use prescription drugs illicitly. The authors provide evidence that prescription drug abuse is a problem among college students. Copyright 2006, American College Health Association.
Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta: The social organization of the illicit drug trade servicing a private college campus.
Mohamed AR; Fritsvold E. Deviant Behavior 27(1): 97-125, 2006. (24 refs.)
This article examines the relationships and business practices of an informal Southern California drug dealing network servicing and, in many cases, run by college students of relatively privileged backgrounds. On the basis of qualitative interviews conducted with drug suppliers, the dealing mechanics, motives, and perceptions of the threat of punishment are explored. This network exists virtually unmediated by agencies of formal social control, despite the fact that their material culture, attitudes, and behaviors are frequently similar to those of their street-level counterparts. This ongoing field study underscores the idea that the war on drugs ignores a significant segment of drug dealing and using Americans. Copyright 2006, Taylor & Francis Inc.
Type of student residence as a factor in college students' alcohol consumption and social normative perceptions regarding alcohol use.
Page RM; O'Hegarty M. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse 15(3): 15-31, 2006. (19 refs.)
The purpose of this study was to determine alcohol use (particularly heavy drinking) and social normative estimations of alcohol use according to Student residence (fraternity, sorority, residence hall, or apartment complex). To achieve this purpose, a survey was conducted in all 34 sections of a general education core English class at a northwestern public university. Students living in fraternities, compared with males living in apartment complexes and residence halls, consumed more alcohol, engaged more frequently in heavy episodic drinking, and drank more when "partying." A similar pattern was true for females living in sororities relative to females students living in apartment complexes and residence halls. In most cases, social normative estimations were higher than reported use among those living in fraternities, sororities, residence halls, and apartment complexes. As hypothesized, social normative estimates of alcohol use were highest among students living in fraternities and sororities. Thus, it appears that social normative estimations of frequent and heavy drinking may contribute to alcohol use patterns, particularly among members of fraternities and sororities. These results confirm that students' choice of residence is a dominant influence when it comes to drinking behavior. Copyright 2006, Haworth Press Inc.
Collecting data on alcohol use and alcohol-related victimization: A comparison of telephone and Web-based survey methods.
Parks KA; Pardi AM; Bradizza CM. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 67(2): 318-323, 2006. (23 refs.)
Objective: Traditionally, personal contact with an experienced interviewer has been thought to facilitate collection of data on alcohol use and victimization experiences. Recent studies indicate that Web-based surveys may be an efficient alternative for gathering these sensitive data. To date, telephone interviewing and Web-based collection of data on alcohol-related negative consequences, particularly victimization, have not been compared. This study was designed to compare data from an interviewer-administered and Web-based survey on alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences in a sample of college women. Method: Seven hundred women from a second semester freshmen college class were randomly selected to participate in either the telephone interview or Web-based modes of survey administration. Results: Fifty-three percent of invited women (N = 370) completed the survey. Completion rates were higher, and estimated dollar costs were significantly lower, for the Web-based survey. There were no differences in reported rates of alcohol or drug use by survey method; however, there were differences in several specific alcohol-related negative consequences. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, for college women, Web-based surveys versus telephone interviews can be an effective and more cost-efficient means for collecting data on alcohol use and related negative consequences, particularly victimization. In addition, we found some evidence that women may be more forthcoming when responding to a Web-based survey as compared with an interviewer-administered telephone survey. Copyright 2006, Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc.
Stimulant medication use, misuse, and abuse in an undergraduate and graduate student sample.
White BP; Becker-Blease KA; Grace-Bishor K. Journal of American College Health 54(5): 261-268, 2006. (36 refs.)
In this study, the authors investigated the character-istics of use, misuse, and abuse of stimulant medication (primarily methylphenidate and variants) among students at a northeastern US university. Researchers sent an invitation to take an Internet survey to student e-mail addresses and passed 150 paper surveys in undergraduate classes, analyzing 1,025 (975 electronically) returned surveys. Sixteen percent of respondents reported abusing or misusing stimulant medication. Ninety-six percent of respondents who specified a medication preferred to abuse or misuse Ritalin. Men and women reported similar use patterns. Most respondents who abused or misused stimulant medication swallowed pills; 40% used intranasally. Reasons for abusing or misusing stimulant medication included improving attention, partying, reducing hyperactivity, and improving grades. Consistent with previous studies, results suggest that abuse of stimulant medication is a concern on college campuses. The results point to various reasons for and methods of abusing and misusing stimulant medication that may direct future research, prevention, and intervention. Copyright 2006, American College Health Association.
College students' use of cocaine.
Williams J; Pacula RL; Chaloupka FJ; Wechsler H. Substance Use & Misuse 41(4): 489-509, 2006. (30 refs.)
After experiencing a period of rapid decline between 1986 and 1994, cocaine use is once again on the rise in the United States. The increased prevalence of use among college students is particularly troubling because of its potential impact on human capital acquisition and long-term labor market success. Merging information oil the price of cocaine and marijuana from the US. Drug Enforcement Agency with data oil cocaine use from the College Alcohol Study, we investigate the demand for cocaine in the college population. We find evidence that participation in cocaine use by college students is responsive to changes in the price of cocaine and marijuana and that cocaine and marijuana are economic complements for this population. Further investigation revealed significant differences in the demand for cocaine by those less than age 21 and those at least age 21 years, with the younger age group being more responsive to changes in the price of cocaine. No difference is found, however; in the demand for cocaine across gender. Copyright 2006, Marcel Dekker, Inc.
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