The purpose of this study was to determine whether adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) on college campuses have a more problematic style of drinking compared with their non-ACOA counterparts. Results indicated that ACOAs endorsed more problematic drinking patterns than did non-ACOAs. Implications discussed include identiyicarion of ACOAs and their specific counseling.
Student drinking is a serious concern on college and university campuses nationwide (Wechsler, 1996). particularly binge drinking. Wechsler. Davenport, Dowdall, Moeykens, and Castillo (1 994). in a study of 17,592 college students representing 140 four-year U.S. colleges, found that 84 % drank alcohol, and of these 44 % were binge drinkers. Nineteen percent were frequent binge drinkers and were more likely to have had health problems. Forty-seven percent of these frequenr binge drinkers had received injuries related to drinking and had participated in unplanned and unprotected sex. Most of these students had not sought treatment for drinking, nor did they consider it to be problem. Heavy drinking among college students (41 % ) also was reported by Johnston, O'Malley, and Bachman (1 993) in their national survey on drug use. In a similar vein, Alterman et al. (1990) found that 40 X of their college male subjects could be classified as "problem drinkers." This was defined as being intoxicated two or more times monthly and suffering from at least two adverse consequences as a result of drinking. Finally, O'Hare ( 1 990) found that those students who live on campus were more likely to be moderate to heavy drinkers compared with commuters.
Such widespread alcohol use and binge drinking leads to equally widespread drinking-related problems on college campuses. These include hangovers, class absences, lower grades, damaged property, intoxication while driving, trouble with the administration, and physical problems (Berkowitz &