Alcohol use predicts increased risk of victimization among college students

Alcohol use among college students is linked to numerous negative consequences. Of particular concern are those consequences related to sexual abuse and physical violence. The presentation reports on a study to examine alcohol use and increased risk of victimization among college students. The findings utilize the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey-Long Form data based on 237,313 respondents collected from 2006 to 2009. The survey is designed to assess students' attitudes, perceptions and consequences of alcohol and other drug use on college campuses. The survey consists of 39 questions and takes about 20 minutes to complete. Logistic regression models revealed that the frequency of alcohol use in the past year was associated with the following incidents of violence or threats of violence: ethnic/racial harassment; physical violence; theft; and forced or unwanted sexual touching, fondling or intercourse. Women were more likely to experience sexual assault, but the association of alcohol with sexual assault did not differ by gender. Men were more likely to experience ethnic/racial harassment, threatened physical violence and theft involving force; in addition, the association of alcohol with these incidents was stronger for men than for women. Findings are intended to provide implications for intervention efforts and future research. The project is funded in part by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), with the support of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) (Grant number: Q184Z100001).