Ariel Lapena Sarmiento, BA, MPH(c)¹, Lisa L. Lindley, DrPH², Ning Lu, PhD, MPH³, and Richard W. Wilson, DHSc, MPH³. (1) Graduate Assistant and Teaching Associate, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, One Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101, 270 745 4797, ariel.sarmiento@wku.edu, (2) Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101, (3) Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576

Current research has estimated that 44% of college students nationally engage in binge or episodic heavy drinking (EHD). Moreover, the literature has documented an association between EHD and illicit substance use among college students. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, undergraduate students (n=621) at Western Kentucky University (WKU) were studied to monitor health risk behaviors, including EHD and illicit substance use. A stratified random sample of undergraduate classes was selected from all 100, 200, 300 and 400 level courses offered on WKU’s main campus during the fall 2002 semester. The American College Health Association’s 58-item National College Health Assessment survey was used to measure students’ health risk behaviors. Results indicated that 51% of students at WKU engaged in EHD during their last drinking episode. Marijuana was most frequently the drug of choice at WKU as 20% of students reported using this drug during the last 30 days. WKU students who reported using marijuana were significantly (p<.001) more likely to engage in EHD than students who did not use marijuana. Similarly, students who reported EHD were seven times more likely to report marijuana use during the last 30 days than students who did not report EHD (95% CI = 4.1-12.0). This session will provide an overview of these results and discuss the importance of addressing concomitant EHD and marijuana use among college students in health promotion and education programs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize that episodic heavy drinking and illicit substance use are usually concomitant risk behaviors among college students.
• Understand the association between EHD and marijuana use among college students.
• Recognize significance of developing intervention programs for college students that target both episodic heavy drinking and illicit substance use.

Keywords: College Students, Binge Drinking

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.

Handout (.ppt format, 126.5 kb)