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Serious Health Consequences Associated with Alcohol Use among College Students: Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Seen in an Emergency Department
James C. Turner, Jianfen Shu
Objective: Heavy episodic alcohol use has been associated with numerous consequences among college students. However, neither the incidence nor the demographic and clinical characteristics of serious health consequences have been clearly defined in this population. This study is conducted to better understand clinical outcomes associated with alcohol use in college students. Method: In a prospective observational study, medical records of students presenting to a large university medical center emergency department were examined. Demographic and clinical features of alcohol-related visits were gathered on patients who were enrolled as undergraduates at a 4-year public institution during 2 academic years from July 2000 through June 2002. Enrollment was ~12,500 undergraduates per year. Results: Of all emergency visits, 13% were alcohol related; and of all undergraduate stu- ALCOHOL USE by college students is an important societal and public health issue that has received much attention because it has many related social and health consequences. Heavy episodic drinking in particular (defined as five or more drinks for a male student, four or more for a female student, during any one social occasion) has been associated with poor academic performance; a variety of potentially risky lifestyle behaviors such as unwanted sexual activity, memory loss, driving under the influence and fighting; problems with local police; and secondary consequences for those living on campus (e.g., disrupted sleep and property damage). In addition, health problems such as being hurt or injured or receiving medical treatment for alcohol overdose have been self-reported among college students who drink (Wechsler et al., 2002). The odds of experiencing one of these health conditions correlate directly with the frequency of heavy episodic drinking (Wechsler et al., 1998). It has also been estimated that heavy episodic college drinkers annually experience the following: a health problem related to alcohol (1.9%), hurt or injured due to alcohol (10.6%) (Hingson et al., 2002). The degree to which dents, 0.7% presented with alcohol-related medical conditions each year. Injuries accounted for 53% of all visits, and acute intoxication accounted for 34%. Nine of 185 patients were hospitalized. Men aged 21 years and older had the highest odds of visiting the emergency department. Trauma occurred more frequently among men, students >18 years of age and white students. Accidents (84%) and fights (16%) were the sources of injuries. Acute intoxication occurred more frequently among women, students ?18 years of age and nonwhite students. Conclusions: Alcohol use contributes to a small yet significant proportion of emergency room visits for college students. Distinctive subgroups of college students, including legal-age drinkers, experience patterns of serious health consequences as a result of problem use of alcohol. (J. Stud. Alcohol 65: 179-183, 2004)
