Consequences of Alcohol Use: Behavior Changes and Problems During First Year of University

Abstract

A sample of students registered to begin first-year university were surveyed 1 month prior to their arrival on campus about experiences they had had with alcohol. The same students were surveyed again 8 months later, toward the end of their first academic year. Overall, the results showed an increase in problems in three problem domains–Personal Effects, Social/Legal Effects, and Major School Problems–although males and females did not show identical patterns of change. The implications for prevention programming in universities are discussed.