Increased Prevalence of Problematic Alcohol Consumption in University Students

Objective: To compare the prevalence rates of problematic alcohol consumption in students and in the general population. Methods: A sample of students (n=1115) and a population sample (n=631)were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). The PHQ probes for problematic alcohol consumption with five questions. An "alcohol syndrome" is suspected if at least one of these indicators is present. Results: The alcohol syndrome was present more frequently among students than in the population sample (30,1 % versus 8,1 %). The odds ratio, adjusted for age, gender and education, was OR=3,7. However, when the five indicators were analysed separately, only two of them were significantly more frequent in students than in the comparison sample. Both indicate a neglect of duties as a consequence of alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Intervention strategies aimed at students' alcohol consumption should focus on binge drinking and the risks associated with this problematic form of alcohol consumption.