Chapter 20 - Alcohol use among undergraduate students: From brief interventions to behavioral economics

Abstract

This chapter summarizes statistics on the prevalence and consequences of undergraduate drinking and discusses some specific groups that have been identified as high risk. Alcohol use among undergraduate students is identified as a significant public health problem. Alcohol use, and particularly binge drinking, can lead to a host of alcohol-related consequences. The negative effects of alcohol range from fairly minor problems to alcohol-induced auto fatalities and alcohol poisoning, and alcohol use that leads to a prolonged pattern of negative consequences can result in a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence. Gender differences in the drinking practices of college students have been widely reported. For both males and females, increased involvement and investment in intercollegiate sports was associated with higher rates of binge drinking. It is suggested that brief interventions delivered in primary care settings promoted reductions in drinking across both genders, motivated individuals to pursue specialized alcohol treatment programs, and reduced the utilization of other health care services. It is found that the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students program can be effective tools for reducing risky drinking, and to a lesser extent alcohol-related negative consequences, among college students.