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Alcohol Use among Fraternity and Sorority Members: Looking at Change over Time.

2004; Volume: 47; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

0090-1482

Sandra L. Caron, Eilean G. Moskey, Cindy A. Hovey,

Homelessness and Social Issues

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare data collected from 508 Greek members at a large, northeastern land grant university in 1994 and 2000, examining both alcohol use and its consequences. This study supports past research findings showing a high incidence of alcohol consumption among fraternity and sorority members. However, by comparing the responses of the 1994 sample to the 2000 sample, many important significant differences were found that provide a more optimistic view of the issue of alcohol use among Greek members. These results would suggest that while there is much work to do to reduce heavy alcohol consumption among fraternity and sorority members, some progress has been made in this direction. *********** The college years are a time of change and experimentation. Many students are on their own for the first time; they face new pressures and find new friends. Drinking is part of college life for most students. For some, this may lead to substance abuse. Although this may include illegal drugs, the drug of choice is generally alcohol (Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, 1991). In fact, some experts have labeled the widespread abuse of alcohol as one of the most serious threats faced by our nation's institutions of higher education (Higher Education Center, 1997). Alcohol abuse may be especially prevalent among students in Greek organizations. Fraternity and sorority members drink more often and in greater quantities than other college students, putting then at an even higher risk for such things as missing class, poor grades, unprotected sex, violence, and even death. One of the most noted surveys of college student alcohol and drug use was conducted by Dr. Henry Wechsler of the Harvard School of Public Health in 1995. The results of his College Alcohol Survey confirmed that the United States continues to have a major substance abuse problem on its college campuses. In terms of Greek organizations, his study found that sorority members were almost twice as likely to be drinkers compared to non-sorority women; among men, 75% of fraternity members were drinkers, compared to 45 % of other male students (Wechsler, 1995). The term binge drinking was defined by the researcher as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row for men and four or more for women, at least once in the two weeks preceding the survey. Other published findings revealed that 56% of fraternity residents (those residing in a house) and 44% of sorority residents reported having missed class since the beginning of the school year due to alcohol. Residents of fraternities and sororities were as likely as non-members to engage in unprotected sex, and three times as many fraternity residents as nonmember male student reported being pushed, hit or assaulted in the previous year by someone who was intoxicated. Sorority residents were twice as likely as non-member women to be pushed, hit or assaulted (Wechsler, Kuh, & Davenport, 1996). The Core Institute at Southern Illinois University has reported similar findings about student substance use. The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey has been the primary evaluation instrument used by colleges and universities to access information about alcohol and other drug use on their campuses. According to the institute's more recent reports, alcohol use was found to be higher among Greek affiliated students, and fraternity members reporting higher levels of drinking than sorority members (Alva, 1998). Other studies using the Core survey (Cashin, Presley, & Meilman, 1998; Presley, Meilman, & Lyerla, 1993) found that students residing in Greek houses drank more, engaged in heavy drinking more often, and experienced more negative consequences (such as missing class, poor grades, and fights) than the general student population. These findings have been supported by other researchers, such as Baer, Kivlahan, and Marlatt (1995) who found that 85% of residents of Greek houses reported drinking alcohol at least 1-2 times per week, while 37% said they drank at least 3-4 times per week. …