College binge drinking in the 1990s: A continuing problem - Results of theHarvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study

In 1999, the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study resurvey ed colleges that participated in the 1993 and 1997 surveys. Responses to ma il questionnaires from more than 14 000 students at 119 nationally represen tative 4-year colleges in 39 states were compared with responses received i n 1997 and 1993. Two of 5 students (44%) were binge drinkers in 1999, the s ame rate as in 1993. However, both abstention and frequent binge-drinking r ates increased significantly. In 1999, 19% were abstainers, and 23% were fr equent binge drinkers. As before, binge drinkers, and particularly frequent binge drinkers, were more likely than other students to experience alcohol -related problems. At colleges with high binge-drinking rates, students who did not binge drink continued to be at higher risk of encountering the sec ondhand effects of others' heavy drinking. The continuing high level of bin ge drinking is discussed in the context of the heightened attention and inc reased actions at colleges. Although it may take more time for intervention s to take effect, the actions college health providers have undertaken thus far may not be a sufficient response.