The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39705

Laurel A. Sharmer, Phd, MPH, CHES, Kathleen M. O'Rourke, MS, and Mark Simon, PhD (ABD). Department of Community Health, SUNY Potsdam, Maxcy Hall, Potsdam, NY 13676

A sample of undergraduate college men and women (n=360) enrolled in randomly selected classes was surveyed during the fall, 1999 semester to determine demographic associations with participation in drinking games. Slightly more than half of the students surveyed played a drinking game at least once during the fall semester. Students who lived in a dorm suite were almost ten times more likely to have played a drinking game than were other students. Students who lived in a dorm double or students who lived off campus with other students were also significantly more likely to play drinking games than students who lived alone or with family. The results showed that young age and living with other students on campus are risk factors for participating in drinking games. Universities can use these results to develop alcohol-free programs and activities for students that provide the kind of bonding experiences that drinking games provide.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to

• describe the association between living arrangement and particpation in drinking games among college students; and
• describe an intervention that can provide a safe and alcohol-free alternative to risk taking behavior for college students.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.