Tracking consumption

Report indicates decrease in binge drinking, healthier drinking habits

Red Solo Cups have a dual purpose these days. Sure, they are used to play beer pong and drink alcohol, but there’s evidence people may be using the infamous party cups to keep hydrated too.

University of Idaho students are reducing their consumption of drugs and alcohol, according to a biennial report by the Counseling and Testing Center.

“We have some very promising trends happening,” said Brian Dulin, a student service coordinator with the UI Counseling and Testing Center. “The majority of our students who do drink do tend to drink responsibly.”

According to the report derived from a survey of 950 UI students, 18 percent had seven or more alcoholic drinks the last time they “partied” — a staggering 8.7 percent decrease from when the survey was first conducted in 2005. The number of students who consumed five to six drinks the last time they “partied” also decreased from 17.5 percent to 14.6 percent from 2005 to 2013.

Dulin said the trend is a positive development because it shows students know their limits and are shying away from dangerous binge drinking, which is characterized as consuming more than five drinks in one sitting.

Dulin presented the alcohol and drug report to UI Faculty Senate last Tuesday.

The report also shows a decrease in the amount of students who used alcohol in the past 30 days, from 72 percent of students in 2005 to 65.5 percent in 2013. Yet the number is still higher than the national average of 61.3 percent.

Numbers on marijuana consumption show a similar trend compared to the 2011 survey results.

According to the report, 34.5 percent of UI students have tried marijuana, but only 14.9 percent reported using it in the past 30 days. Both statistics are down from 2011, which saw a significant increase in the amount of marijuana activity at UI.

Sharon Fritz, a psychologist who oversaw the study, said she partly attributes the spike in marijuana use in 2011 to the political debate surrounding new marijuana legislation in Washington. She said the politicized debate allowed students to become more comfortable with the idea of smoking marijuana.

With a decrease in marijuana use in 2013, she said it’s clear — at this point — the legalization across the boarder has not had a large effect on UI students’ marijuana habits.

“This is not impacting us right now,” Fritz said.

While alcohol is the most popular substance among college students, Dulin said cigarettes and marijuana are close seconds, followed by prescription drugs.

Seven percent of UI students reported using painkillers they were not prescribed within the last 12 months, according to the report.

Dulin said while the report shows a decrease in the number of students smoking tobacco, UI has not kept pace with the decreasing national average.

“We have some work to do on that front,” he said.

The survey did not include an option for e-cigarettes.

Dulin said one of the most interesting aspects of the report is the large gap between perceived alcohol and drug use on campus and realistic consumption percentages.

Students reported 83 percent of their peers had smoked marijuana in the past 30 days. Yet, only 14 percent of students had reported doing so, according to the report.

With alcohol consumption, students estimated their peers have 5.6 drinks when they party, but students reported usually having about 3.6 drinks in one sitting.

Dulin said his office uses the perception gap to inform students that many of their peers do not engage in dangerous drinking habits, even though there’s a misconception that they often do.

He said the report’s goal is not to promote abstinence from alcohol or drugs, but to encourage safe consumption behaviors that can reduce the possibility of substance related tragedies.

Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected]

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