Alcohol Price Considerations on alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in University Students

<b>Background</b><br />This study investigates alcohol price and proposed substance use amongst Australian tertiary students.<br /><br /><b>Methods</b><br />Participants were recruited in 2009 via facebook, and were asked to complete a 34-item internetbased survey. 512 people took part, 485 fit the inclusion criteria.<br /><br /><b>Results</b><br />The sample consisted predominately of young (mean age 20.3 years), female (66%) university students. Higher alcohol prices resulted in increased consideration of illicit substances as an alternative indicating a substitution effect, although the majority (60%) of respondents would never consider using ecstasy.<br /><br /><b>Conclusion</b><br />Results indicate substantial room to increase the price of alcohol to achieve alcohol consumption reduction without likely substitution behavior.