Binge Drinking, Tobacco, and Illicit Drug Use and Involvement in College Athletics

Abstract

Binge drinking (heavy, episodic alcohol consumption), tobacco, and illicit drug use among a random sample of college students at a nationally representative sample of 140 American colleges were examined by means of a mail survey. Students were divided into three groups on the basis of their involvement in athletics: whether they were involved, partly involved, or not involved. In addition, individual correlates of binge drinking among athletically involved students were studied. The survey results indicated that students involved in college athletics engaged in binge drinking and chewed tobacco more often than students not involved in athletics, but were less likely to be cigarette smokers or marijuana users. The strongest predictors of binge drinking among students involved in athletics were residence in a fraternity or a sorority, a party lifestyle, engagement in other risky behaviors, and previous binging in high school. Coaches may play an important role in discouraging substance use and need to be part of campus prevention efforts.