Previous studies have documented approximately 20% of college students met the criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, only 1% of students reported receiving diagnoses or treatment for addiction from a professional. A new study investigated the relationship between college students’ reasons for seeking counseling services and their alcohol-related risks. Participants (n = 153) were students at one U.S. institution who reported drinking heavily and receiving counseling services. Inclusion criteria were undergraduate enrollment at the institution, being younger than 23 years old, experiencing at least one heavy episodic drinking episode in the past two weeks, and receiving professional help from a counselor, psychiatrist, or psychologist in the past two years. Three-quarters of the sample (n = 115) reported they received these services on campus. The sample was 65% White, 22% Hispanic, and 71% female. Participants completed a computerized survey on which they reported their drinking behavior in a typical week, alcohol-related negative consequences, problematic drinking behavior (measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test [AUDIT] instrument), and reason(s) for seeking counseling services (i.e., depression, anger management, alcohol use concerns). The authors calculated descriptive statistics for the sample, then used two hierarchical regression models predicting past-month negative consequences. Results indicated male participants consumed more mean drinks per week than female participants (19 drinks vs. 13 drinks) and the mean number of negative alcohol-related consequences reported per week was six. Over 80% of the sample met the criteria for hazardous drinking and nearly 40% met the criteria for alcohol dependence. The most commonly reported reasons for seeking services were anxiety (60.8%), stress (56.9%), and depression (42.5%); only 9.8% reported alcohol use concerns as a reason for seeking help. Results of the first regression model indicated, overall, weekly drinking (p < 0.001), seeking help for alcohol problems (p < 0.001), seeking help for impulse- or anger-related problems (p = 0.003), and seeking help for depression (p = 0.016) predicted greater negative consequences, controlling for potential confounders. Results of the second model indicated seeking help because of stress (p = 0.048) was associated with lower AUDIT scores, while seeking help for alcohol problems (p < 0.001) and impulse- or anger-related problems (p = 0.21) were associated with higher AUDIT scores, controlling for potential confounders. The authors argued these results are consistent with other literature that has documented a close relationship between mental health and substance use and on-campus counseling centers may be ideal locations at which to address both of these issues.
Take away: In this sample of students who reported drinking heavily and receiving counseling services, 80% met the criteria for hazardous drinking and 40% met the criteria for alcohol dependence. Seeking help because of alcohol and impulse- or anger-related problems predicted greater alcohol-related consequences and higher Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) scores.