This report addresses three aspects of the "drug problem" on Pennsylvania's college campuses: (1) education and prevention; (2) diagnosis and treatment; and (3) law enforcement. It describes a wide variety of campus responses to this challenge reflecting the enormous variety of institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. The…

A handbook of health issues for college students is presented. Prevention is the keynote, stressing the importance of staying healthy and recovering quickly. Information is organized in a question-and-answer format. The 12 chapters are as follows: nutrition: food as fuel (e.g. acne and diet and daily caloric requirements); exercise: fine-tuning…

This report presents findings of the 1997 survey of substance use and related behaviors among university students in Texas. The objectives of the study were to determine the number and characteristics of students who use and misuse substances; to highlight the relationship between misuse and other risky behaviors; and to estimate the need for…

Alcohol abuse, racial tensions, dilapidated student unions, and diverse needs of commuter students are sources of concern to 380 college presidents surveyed. The administrators say institutions must make a greater effort to strengthen the sense of community on campuses. Breakdown in the traditional student-faculty relationship is also seen as a…

The University of California at Santa Barbara Reader's Theater program educates students about the prevention of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and HIV through a live, dramatic script reading. Peer educators serve as both actors and follow-up workshop discussion facilitators. (SM)

Describes survey of 300 undergraduates on alcohol abuse. Shows significant relationships between alcohol abuse and nine variables. The demographic/social variables of gender, age, and grade point average (GPA) related significantly to students' alcohol abuse. Important single predictors of abuse included familial abuse, depression, state anxiety,…

Findings indicated that high school and college students who drank frequently were more depressed than students who drank less often. However, frequent drinkers recorded higher self-esteem scores than less-frequent drinkers, contrary to findings in other studies. (RJM)

Previous research indicates that brief motivational interventions for college student drinkers may be less effective in group settings than individual settings. Social psychological theories about counterproductive group dynamics may partially explain this finding. The present study examined potential problems with group motivational interventions…

A survey of 706 randomly sampled students at institutions of postsecondary education in Minnesota examined students' perceptions of violence and safety at their schools. Overall findings indicated that the majority of students had not been victims of violent acts and generally felt safe at their institutions. However, many respondents indicated…

A study was done to examine student opinion of the social environment on the University of California Davis campus in Spring 1990 as a follow up to a similar study conducted in 1987. The study used the Student Opinion Survey and mailed it to a stratified random sample of 1,649 students. Of the surveys sent, 57.7 percent were returned. The…

This report focuses on the dramatic increase in and intensity of binge drinking (consuming more than five drinks in one sitting) on American college and university campuses--now considered the number one substance abuse problem in American college life. Anecdotal evidence indicates that many students drink more, more frequently, and with the…

The issue of alcohol use, with occasional reference to other drug use, by college students is reviewed in this report: which (1) summarizes what is known about the influence of collegiate environments on college student use of alcohol; and (2) suggests how campus policies and practices can be modified to create environmental conditions that have a…

Anticipating a resident population by 1991, the State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome is establishing a proactive alcohol and drug abuse prevention program with links to the surrounding community. According to a recent study, the college student population exceeds national norms for alcohol and drug consumption, and…

This document offers guidance to college housing officers in implementing substance-free campus housing. The guide offers reasons for supporting the establishment of substance-free residence halls; provides evidence that such living areas benefit both students and the college; and offers suggestions for setting up and maintaining substance-free…

Examines college substance abuse prevention and intervention programs in the framework of the elaboration likelihood model. Discusses the role of persuasion and recommends careful analysis of the relevance, construction, and delivery of messages about substance use and subsequent program evaluation. Recommendations for increasing program…