ALCOHOL-USE AND RELATED CONSEQUENCES AMONG STUDENTS WITH VARYING LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Alcohol use, binge drinking, and substance abuse-related consequences among students with varying levels of participation in intercollegiate athletics were examined. Between October 1994 and May 1996, 51,483 st udents at 125 institutions answered questions about their involvement in athletics, ranging from noninvolvement to participant to leadership positions, on the long form of the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey. In c omparisons with nonathletes, both male and female athletes consumed si gnificantly more alcohol per week, engaged in binge drinking more ofte n, and suffered more adverse consequences from their substance use. No support was found for the hypothesis that athletic leaders were more responsible than other team participants in using alcohol. Male team l eaders appeared to be at significantly greater risk than female team l eaders; they also consumed more alcohol, binged more often, and suffer ed more consequences than other team members.