Alcohol and Drug Use Among College Student Adult Children of Alcoholics

• NCJ Number: 226940
• Journal: Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 53 Issue: 1 Dated: April 2009 Pages: 69-88
• Author(s): Abby L. Braitman; Michelle L. Kelley; Jessica Ladage; Valarie Schroeder; Leslie A. Gumienny; Jennifer A. Morrow; Keith Klostermann
• Date Published: April 2009
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study compared drinking and drug use in adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) to non-ACOAs among college students.

Abstract

Results replicate previous research that demonstrated the widespread use and misuse of alcohol by college students. Although ACOAs did not report drinking more frequently or more heavily than non-ACOAs, they began drinking earlier than did non-ACOAs. Also, ACOAs were more likely to be current drug users as compared to non-ACOAs peers. Thus, parental alcohol abuse appeared associated with illegal drug use among college students. Although the frequency with which college students drink in the United States has been well-established, much less is known about whether parental alcoholism is associated with drinking behavior or drug use among college students. The focus of this study of 572 undergraduates was to examine whether suspecting 1 or both parents of alcohol abuse was related to conventional assessments of drinking and drug use behavior, and whether maternal versus paternal alcohol abuse was associated with alcohol and drug use in ACOAs. References and tables