Alcohol Use and Related Consequences Among Students With Varying Levels of Involvement in College Athletics

Abstract

Alcohol use, binge drinking, and substance abuserelated consequences among students with varying levels of participation in intercollegiate athletics were examined. Between October 1994 and May 1996, 51,483 students 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 comparisons with nonathletes, both male and female athletes consumed significantly more alcohol per week, engaged in binge drinking more often, 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 leaders appeared to be at significantly greater risk than female team leaders; they also consumed more alcohol, binged more often, and suffered more consequences than other team members.

Key Words:

• alcohol
• athletes
• binge drinking
• college students
• intercollegiate athletes
• substance abuse

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey R. Cashin

Jami S. Leichliter is the assistant director of the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) and a doctoral candidate in the applied experimental psychology program there. Philip W. Meilman is director of counseling and psychological services and courtesy professor of Human Development at Cornell University, as well as codirector of the Core Institute at SIUC. Cheryl A. Presley is director of quality assurance, evaluation, and information management for student health programs at SIUC and executive director of the Core Institute, and Jeffrey R. Cashin is a doctoral candidate in the applied experimental psychology program at SIUC.