A systematic review of college student-athlete drinking: Prevalence rates, sport-related factors, and interventions

• Published in: Journal of substance abuse treatment Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 305 - 316
• Main Authors: Martens, Matthew P., Dams-O'Connor, Kristen, Beck, Niels C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-10-2006; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Athlete; Athletes; Biological and medical sciences; College students; Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal; Drug addiction; Drugs & sports; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Peer Group; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Sex Distribution; Sports; Students; Substance abuse treatment; Systematic review; Treatment; Treatments; United States - epidemiology; Universities; United States; College students; Treatment; Athlete; Alcohol use; Human; Consumption; Drug addiction; Prevalence; Alcoholism; Drinking; Systematic review; Student; Epidemiology; Alcoholic beverage; Sport; Young adult; Public health
• ISSN: 0740-5472; 1873-6483
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2006.05.004

Alcohol use among college students has become a considerable public health problem. Among this group, intercollegiate athletes are at a particularly high risk for excessive alcohol consumption and resulting negative alcohol-related consequences. The purpose of our review was to systematically examine three main issues related to alcohol consumption among intercollegiate athletes: (a) the prevalence rates and alcohol consumption patterns of this group, especially in comparison with those of collegiate nonathletes; (b) the various factors that might motivate or encourage alcohol use among intercollegiate athletes, primarily sport-related individual and environmental variables; and (c) considerations for conducting alcohol-related interventions with intercollegiate athletes.