Alcohol Use and Related Consequences Among Students With Varying Levels of Involvement in College Athletics

TLDR

The study examined alcohol use, binge drinking, and related consequences among college students across different levels of athletic involvement. Data were collected from 51,483 students at 125 institutions between October 1994 and May 1996 using the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey to assess athletic participation. Athletes, especially male team leaders, drank more, binged more frequently, and experienced more adverse consequences than nonathletes, yet athletic leaders were not found to be more responsible than other team participants.

Abstract

Alcohol use, binge drinking, and substance abuse-related consequences among students with varying levels of participation in intercollegiate athletics were examined. Between October 1994 and May 1996, 51,483 students at 125 institutions answered questions about their involvement in athletics, ranging from noninvolvement to participant to leadership positions, on the long form of the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey. In comparisons with nonathletes, both male and female athletes consumed significantly more alcohol per week, engaged in binge drinking more often, and suffered more adverse consequences from their substance use. No support was found for the hypothesis that athletic leaders were more responsible than other team participants in using alcohol. Male team leaders appeared to be at significantly greater risk than female team leaders; they also consumed more alcohol, binged more often, and suffered more consequences than other team members.