THE FACILITATING AND ENHANCING ROLES GREEK ASSOCIATIONS PLAY IN COLLEGE DRINKING

A quasi-longitudinal, retrospective survey was used to examine the rel ationship of Greek affiliation and intensity of drinking in college. E xplanations of higher levels of drinking among Greeks usually revolve around subcultural support, differential association, and reference gr oup behavior. That is, association with pro-drinking students in a dri nking subculture increases the members' drinking level. In this study, students' high-schooling drinking patterns were used to partially exp lain the decision to join Creek groups in order to continue prior drin king habits. Creek affiliation was found to serve as both a facilitati ng and enhancing factor in collegiate alcohol use.