September 09, 2003

Survey shows CSUS efforts to reduce
drinking, smoking are paying off

Once again, a survey of students at California State University, Sacramento reveals a campus with much lower alcohol abuse and far fewer smokers than at campuses nationwide.

The preliminary findings from a spring survey of 1,400 CSUS students shows 39 percent hadn’t used alcohol in the prior month, compared to 20 percent nationally. Overall, 22 percent of CSUS students said they had never used alcohol and 70 percent had never smoked, compared to 17 percent and 57 percent nationally.

The survey was created by the American College Health Association, and conducted at CSUS by students and staff.

It bolsters findings from last year’s Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, which showed 29 percent of CSUS students had “binged” (drank five drinks at a sitting) in the prior two weeks, compared to 42 percent nationwide. That survey showed CSUS students drink, on average, just half the number of drinks as their counterparts each week. Also in that survey, 65 percent of CSUS students agreed that the campus social atmosphere does not promote alcohol use.

The new survey from spring showed the already low binge drinking rate has declined another 1.3 percent. And 64 percent of CSUS students reported never using marijuana, while 85 percent hadn’t used marijuana in the last month.

Another promising finding for campus officials working to promote responsible alcohol use was that 95 percent of CSUS students had used “protective behaviors” – including alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, setting a drink limit, using a designated driver, having a friend tell them when they’ve had enough, tracking how much they drank, drinking one or fewer drinks each hour, avoiding drinking games, and drinking non-alcoholic “look-alikes.”

For more, contact the CSUS student activities office at (916) 278-6595 or the University’s alcohol, tobacco and other drug education program at (916) 278-5422. For media assistance, contact CSUS public affairs at (916) 278-6156.

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