Increasingly, research is showing that those who drink can harm bystanders through alcohol related harms to others (HTO). In a college environment this is especially of concern since heavy drinking and alcohol related harms are prevalent.
A recent study used a literature review to determine the prevalence of HTO among college students through examining publications on EmBase, PsychInfo, PudMed, and ISS Web of Science that have been published since 2000.
The findings throughout the existing research indicated that HTO are diverse and prevalent in college student populations. Common themes suggest that students who experience HTO have lower grades and lower satisfaction with college. These effects may be even more pronounced in students who do not drink. Those who experience HTO from drinkers who are their friends are more likely to experience stress and deteriorated mental health. This study shows that more research is needed on specific HTO, but also that effective alcohol prevention strategies can impact non-drinkers and heavy drinkers as well as everyone in between.
Take Away: College students who experience alcohol related harms to others may report lower GPA and less satisfaction with school, as well as experience stress and mental health issues. This suggests that alcohol related policies on campus reach more than just the students who drink and are very important.
Trangenstein, P., Wall, P., Jernigan, D. (2019). Collateral damage from college drinking: A conceptual framework for alcohol’s harms to others among US college students. Substance Use & Misuse. doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2019.1573836.