"As long as it doesn't spill over into class": harms arising from students` alcohol use, and the role of policy in reducing them


Autoria(s): Snow, Pamela; Wallace, Stephen; Staiger, Petra; Stolz-Grobusch, Bradley
Data(s)

01/02/2003

Resumo

While there is considerable evidence about the prevalence of student alcohol use, little empirical work has examined the range and level of exposure to alcohol-related risks facing student populations, and the views of key stakeholders about these. This study was conducted at a large multi-campus university in order to gauge the scale and severity of students’ alcohol-related problems, and ways in which these may be mitigated. Student perspectives on campus based policy making with respect to alcohol were also canvassed. This study utilised a range of evaluative instruments, including standardised questionnaire protocols, structured interviews and focus groups. Data gained from students showed a large level of exposure to alcohol-related harm, and staff informants reported student harms such as drink-driving, interpersonal aggression, social nuisance, inadequate security, sexually risky behaviour, and physical malaise. As a group, students seem receptive to campus-based policies that have a harm reduction focus, but are less supportive of institutionalised measures aimed at the student body. Given the divergence of views about the harms arising from student drinking, and a general repudiation of institutional policy measures which may lessen these, the development of harm-reducing policy on alcohol remains challenging.<br />

Identificador

http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30008603

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Elsevier BV

Relação

http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30008603/n20030485.pdf

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0955-3959(02)00198-6

Direitos

2002, Elsevier Science B.V

Palavras-Chave #University students #Alcohol #Policy #Harm reduction
Tipo

Journal Article