Drinking, binge drinking, and other drug use among southwestern undergraduates: Three-year trends

This study examined substance use patterns and consequences in college stud ents over a three year period. Students were surveyed at a large, southwest ern university, allowing for a diverse sample that included a large percent age of minority respondents. Students (total N = 2710) in 1994, 1995, and 1 996 responded anonymously to the Core Survey of Alcohol and Drugs. Over 80% of students at each time point were current drinkers, and over one-third a t each time period reported binge drinking. Binge drinking was associated w ith greater weekly drinking and with a range of negative consequences. Unde rage drinking was prevalent at all time points, and underage drinkers repor ted drinking in a range of on- and off-campus situations. Hispanic students reported higher rates of binge drinking than other ethnic groups. Nonwhite , non-Hispanic students reported greater rates of abstinence than other stu dents. Although other drug use was much less prevalent, drug use in combina tion with drinking was associated with more problematic patterns of drinkin g and more negative consequences. Results are discussed in terms of implica tions for interventions with college students.