The latest health goal for the nation according to Healthy People 2030, is to reduce past-month drug use and high-risk drinking among high-risk populations such as college students. High-risk drinking among college students has remained between 30-40% while cannabis use has drastically increased. Multiple substances use increases the risk for health consequences and future substance use disorder. This study explores the relationship between pregame (a common social event for college students) before live sporting events and frequency of alcohol use, and the like hood of persons who pregame also engage in polysubstance use.
This study was done at a university with over 30,000 students in the South-Central U.S. This university had a very successful and full of traditions athletic program in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For this study, pregaming (PG) was defined as drinking before a live university sporting event that you attended in person. Using a 5-point Likert scale, the students were asked to report their participation with PG over the past year. Students were asked how many days in the past month they drank alcohol to measure drinking frequency. For polysubstance use, they were asked to report their frequency of cannabis or any other drug use during drinking/ use events.
PG at live sporting events was significantly association with the frequency of alcohol use among U.S. college students. Students that were involved in pregaming were 2.5 times more likely to engage in polysubstance use. As stated before, polysubstance use poses a greater risk of negative consequences related to alcohol and other drug misuse. These findings show more reasons why college students are such a high-risk population. Future research would help develop and implement policies and programs to help decrease harm at these PG events.
Takeaway: Pregaming has a strong correlation with frequency of alcohol use and students involved in pregaming are 2.5 times more likely to engage in polysubstance use.