Health and behavioral consequences of binge drinking in college. A national survey of students at 140 campuses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent of binge drinking by college students and the ensuing health and behavioral problems that binge drinkers create for themselves and others on their campus.

DESIGN: Self-administered survey mailed to a national representative sample of US 4-year college students.

SETTING: One hundred forty US 4-year colleges in 1993.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 17,592 college students.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reports of drinking behavior, alcohol-related health problems, and other problems.

RESULTS: Almost half (44%) of college students responding to the survey were binge drinkers, including almost one fifth (19%) of the students who were frequent binge drinkers. Frequent binge drinkers are more likely to experience serious health and other consequences of their drinking behavior than other students. Almost half (47%) of the frequent binge drinkers experienced five or more different drinking-related problems, including injuries and engaging in unplanned sex, since the beginning of the school year. Most binge drinkers do not consider themselves to be problem drinkers and have not sought treatment for an alcohol problem. Binge drinkers create problems for classmates who are not binge drinkers. Students who are not binge drinkers at schools with higher binge rates were more likely than students at schools with lower binge rates to experience problems such as being pushed, hit, or assaulted or experiencing an unwanted sexual advance.

CONCLUSIONS: Binge drinking is widespread on college campuses. Programs aimed at reducing this problem should focus on frequent binge drinkers, refer them to treatment or educational programs, and emphasize the harm they cause for students who are not binge drinkers.