Alcohol and Other Drugs: Attitudes and Use Among Graduate/Professional Students at a Health Science Center

Alcohol and other drug use continue to be a major issue on college and university campuses. Few studies have examined alcohol and other drug related issues for a graduate or professional student population. This study examines attitudes, incidents, and consequences of alcohol and other drug use among students enrolled at an academic heath science center. This study incorporated a descriptive research design and utilized the CORE Alcohol and Drug Survey for the collection of data. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and represented in tables as frequencies and percentages. The survey was mailed to all students enrolled in didactic course work at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) during the fall 2001 semester. This included master's students in physician assistant studies, master's and doctoral students in the biomedical sciences, master's and doctoral students in public health, as well as first and second year medical students. Of the 565 students enrolled in didactic course work, 321 responded to the survey for a return rate of 56.8 %. Statistically significant findings are reported for students at UNTHSC in relation to perceptions of use, actual use, reasons for use, and consequences for use. Similar findings are shown relative to age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, and academic program. Additionally, the UNTHSC students reported statistically significant lower levels of alcohol and drug use, as well as consequences of use than the students represented in the CORE Institutes 2000 national data set. This study identifies the need to investigate alcohol and drug related attitudes, behaviors, and consequences among students studying for professions in health related fields. However, the findings are only relevant to UNTHSC and cannot be generalized to any other population. The study provides personnel at UNTHSC a guide for the development of prevention and intervention programs.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2002

Author dc:creator

• Moorman, Mark Thomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Baier, John L.
• Jacobs, Bonita
• Newsom, Ronald W.

• College students -- Alcohol use -- Texas -- Fort Worth.
• College students -- Drug use -- Texas -- Fort Worth.
• College students -- Texas -- Fort Worth -- Attitudes.
• University of North Texas. Health Science Center at Fort Worth -- Students.
• research design
• alcohol
• drugs
• graduate students
• students drinking

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Moorman, Mark Thomas
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 50761787
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3226/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3226

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3226