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Gender Differences in Alcohol and Drug Use Among
CU-Boulder Undergraduates Spring 1998

1. Male students drink more than female students at CU, in particular males drink more often, males are more likely to drink to get drunk, and males are more likely to drink and drive.


2. Among men and women who did not binge drink in High School, men are more likely to take up binge drinking in college.


3. Women report fewer secondary consequences of their own drinking, and are much less likely to damage property; however, they are more likely to be the victim of unwanted advances, assaults or date rapes.

      					  Male    Female             Males
			  					  Compared to
			   					    Females
 
Total Number                               175      221       

Alcohol and Drug Consumption 
by Students - % Who:
 Abstain                                     6%      14%		
 Drank, but did not binge                   28%      33%
 Binged 1-2 times in the past two weeks     28%      23%
 Binged 3 or more times in past 2 weeks     38%      30%		+

 Drank 10 or more times in past month       44%      20%		+
 Usually binge when drinking                45%      45%
 Drunk 3 or more times in the past month    45%      35%		+
 Drink to get drunk                         75%      67%		+
 Consider themselves problem drinkers        1%       0%
 Ever thought they had a drinking problem   12%       8%

 Drove after drinking in past month         41%      26%		+
 Drove after 5+ drinks in past month        10%       7%
 Rode with drunk/high driver past month     32%      30%

 Smoked cigarettes in past month            40%      35%
 Used marijuana in past month               38%      29%		+
 Used any drug past month (including MJ)    41%      34%		+

High School and College Binge 

Drinking Behavior - % Who:

 No binge in HS or college                  29%      38%		-
 Binge in college, not HS                   27%      19%		+
 Binged in HS, not college                   6%       8%
 Binged in HS and college                   38%      33%

  
                                           Male    Female	      Males
								   Compared to
 Total Number                               175      221	     Females

% of Students Reporting Drinking 
has Caused Them to:
 Have a hangover                            76%      75%
 Miss a class                               50%      41%		+
 Get behind in schoolwork                   37%      36%
 Do something they regret                   44%      43%
 Argue with friends                         31%      25%		+
 Engage in unplanned sex                    35%      29%		+
 Engage in unprotected sex                  14%       8%		+
 Damage property                            25%       7%		+
 Into trouble with police                    7%       8%
 Get hurt or injured                        20%      17%
 Medical treatment for overdose              1%       0%
 Had 5 or more alcohol-related problems     35%	     27%		+
  (excluding hangover but including
      drinking after driving)

% of Students who have Experienced 
Problems Due 
to Other Students’ Drinking:
 Been insulted/humiliated                   40%      35%
 Serious argument or quarrel                33%      28%
 Been pushed/hit/assaulted                  19%      17%
 Had property damaged                       29%      18%		+
 Had to ‘babysit’ drunk                     62%      63%
 Interrupted studying/sleep                 56%      64%		-
 Victim of unwanted advance                 26%      41%		-
 Victim of sexual assault/date rape          1%       5%		-

Alcohol Survey Index

Last revision 07/08/05