Abstract
A recent review of the literature (Stewart, 1996) suggests that persons who have experienced a traumatic event are more likely to develop problematic patterns of alcohol and drug use. This is particularly true of persons who have experienced combat, a physical/sexual assault, or a severe disaster. Because of the nature of the traumas examined, few studies have included men and women. Similarly, few studies have directly compared persons experiencing different numbers or types of traumas. This study examined these issues in a sample of college students, many of whom had experienced a traumatic event. Use of alcohol or other drugs was unrelated to the number or type of traumatic event experienced by the participants. However, it was related to sex. Men reported using significantly more alcohol and drugs than women. Level of alcohol use was related to location where they preferred to drink, levels of extroversion, neuroticism, and lie-scale scores.
Findings will be discussed in terms of recommendations for therapists working in college counseling centers.