In the data reported below, figures 10% and over are rounded to the nearest percentage point. Those figures under 10% are listed to the nearest decimal place to avoid loss of data specificity.

Key findings on the use of alcohol:

• 82% of the students consumed alcohol in the past year.
• 72% of the students consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.
• 67% of underage students (younger than 21) consumed alcohol in the previous 30 days.
• 37% of students reported binge drinking in the previous two weeks. A binge is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks in one sitting.

• 30% of students have used marijuana in the past year.
• 17% of students have used marijuana users in the past 30 days.
• 11% of students have used an illegal drug other than marijuana in the past year.
• 5.4% of students are current users of illegal drugs other than marijuana.

The most frequently reported illegal drugs used in the past 30 days were:

• 17% marijuana (pot, hash, hash oil)
• 3.7% hallucinogens (LSD, PCP)
• 1.2% amphetamines

• 28% reported some form of public misconduct (such as trouble with police, fighting/argument, DWI/DUI, vandalism) at least once during the past year as a result of drinking or drug use.
• 21% reported experiencing some kind of serious personal problem (such as suicidalness, being hurt or injured, trying unsuccessfully to stop using, sexual assault) at least once during the past year as a result of drinking or drug use.

• 96% of students said the campus has alcohol and drug policies;
• 4.0% said they "don't know"; and
• 0.2% said there wasn't a policy.

• 39% of students said the campus has an alcohol and drug prevention program;
• 59% said they "don't know "; and
• 1.4% said there wasn't a program.

• 73% of students believe the campus is concerned about the prevention of drug and alcohol use;
• 14% said they "don't know "; and
• 14% said the campus is not concerned.

• 94% of students believe the average student on campus uses alcohol once a week or more.
• 45% of students believe the average student on this campus uses some form of illegal drug at least once a week.
• 30% of students indicated they would prefer not to have alcohol available at parties they attend.
• 84% of students indicated they would prefer not to have drugs available at parties they attend.

The following percentages of survey respondents said they saw drinking as a central part of the social life of the following groups:

• 88% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of male students.
• 77% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of female students.
• 17% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of faculty/staff.
• 58% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of alumni.
• 57% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of athletes.
• 96% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of fraternities.
• 91% of the respondents said they saw drinking as central in the social life of sororities.
• 84% of the students said they believe the social atmosphere on campus promotes alcohol use.
• 33% of the students said they believe the social atmosphere on campus promotes drug use.
• 18% of the students said they do not feel safe on campus.

Compared to other campuses...

• 15% feel that alcohol use is greater
• 5.9% feel that alcohol use is less
• 79% feel that alcohol use is about the same

On the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, respondents were asked to report whether students on this campus cared about a number of campus climate issues (with the response options being "not at all", "slightly", "somewhat", and "very much"). The following percentages of respondents on this campus indicated that their fellow students cared "somewhat" or "very much" about the following issues:

• 94% said students cared about sexual assault
• 85% said students cared about assaults that are non-sexual
• 84% said students cared about harassment because of race or ethnicity
• 77% said students cared about harassment because of gender
• 71% said students cared about harassment because of sexual orientation
• 55% said students cared about harassment because of religion
• 53% said students cared about campus vandalism
• 45% said students cared about alcohol and other drug use

Experiences of Harassment or Violence

• 7.8% experienced ethnic or racial harassment; 3.0% of those had taken alcohol or other drugs.
• 8.0% experienced threats of physical violence; 38% of those had taken alcohol or other drugs.
• 4.0% experienced actual physical violence; 65% of those had taken alcohol or other drugs.
• 0.9% experienced theft involving force or threat of force; 25% of those had taken alcohol or other drugs.
• 4.9% experienced forced sexual touching or fondling; 86% of those had taken alcohol or other drugs.
• 2.4% experienced unwanted sexual intercourse; 80% of those had taken alcohol or other drugs.

On the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, students were asked to rate the degree of risk people take when they act in certain ways, listed below. The response options were "no risk", "slight risk", "moderate risk", "great risk", and "can't say." The numbers listed below indicate the percentage of respondents who felt there was "great risk" associated with the following behaviors:

• 95% said regularly engaging in unprotected sexual activity with multiple partners was a great risk
• 94% said taking cocaine regularly was a great risk
• 86% said taking LSD regularly was a great risk
• 75% said taking amphetamines regularly was a great risk
• 73% said taking four or five drinks nearly every day was a great risk
• 62% said taking steroids for body building or improved athletic performance was a great risk
• 58% said trying cocaine once or twice was a great risk
• 55% said smoking marijuana regularly was a great risk
• 51% said trying LSD once or twice was a great risk
• 51% said regularly engaging in unprotected sexual activity with a single partner was a great risk
• 48% said consuming alcohol prior to being sexually active was a great risk
• 45% said having five or more drinks in one sitting was a great risk
• 34% said trying amphetamines once or twice was a great risk
• 20% said taking one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, liquor) nearly every day was a great risk
• 15% said smoking marijuana occasionally was a great risk
• 6.0% said trying marijuana once or twice was a great risk

In the last 30 days, the following percentages of students engaged in the behaviors described below:

• 68 % refused an offer of alcohol or other drugs
• 19% bragged about alcohol or other drug use
• 77 % heard someone else brag about alcohol or other drug use
• 3.3 % carried a weapon such as a gun, knife, etc. (not hunt or job related)
• 35 % experienced peer pressure to drink or use drugs
• 9.2% held a drink to have people stop bothering you about why you weren't drinking
• 16% thought a sexual partner was not attractive because he/she was drunk
• 8.7% told a sexual partner that he/she was not attractive because he/she was drunk

The following data describe how students say their friends would feel if they. . .

• Tried marijuana once or twice - 52% of their friends would disapprove
• Smoked marijuana occasionally - 64% of their friends would disapprove
• Smoked marijuana regularly - 88% of their friends would disapprove

• Tried cocaine once or twice - 94 % of their friends would disapprove
• Took cocaine regularly - 100% of their friends would disapprove

• Tried LSD once or twice - 87% of their friends would disapprove
• Took LSD regularly - 98 % of their friends would disapprove

• Took one or two drinks every day - 67 % of their friends would disapprove
• Took four or five drinks every day - 93 % of their friends would disapprove
• Had five or more drinks at one sitting - 56% of their friends would disapprove

Sexual Behavior

• 58 % of the students reported engaging in sexual intercourse within the past year. Of these, 20% used alcohol the last time they had intercourse and 3.6% used drugs.

• 73% say it breaks the ice
• 70% say it enhances social activity
• 28% say it makes it easier to deal with stress
• 52% say it facilitates a connection with peers
• 60% say it gives people something to talk about
• 55% say it facilitates male bonding
• 39% say it facilitates female bonding
• 56% say it allows people to have more fun
• 69% say it gives people something to do
• 16% say it makes food taste better
• 17% say it makes women sexier
• 9.9% say it makes men sexier
• 8.7% say it makes me sexier
• 52% say it facilitates sexual opportunity

The following tables provide additional details about students' reported use of drugs at this institution. Unless otherwise indicated, percentages are based on the total number of students responding validly to a given item.

For comparison purposes some figures are included from a reference group of 38,715 students who completed the same questionnaire in 1991-93. More detailed analyses can be found in the 1991-1993 CORE Institute monograph.

In general, substantial proportions of students report having used alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana in response to the question, "At what age did you first use ?" whereas comparatively few report having used each of the other substances. This question examines "lifetime prevalence" as opposed to annual prevalence and 30-day prevalence.

This table describes lifetime prevalence, annual prevalence, 30-day prevalence, and high frequency use (3 times a week or more), at UNC-Chapel Hill, and in the reference group of 38,715 college students.

	Ever taken (%)		Taken in last year (%)		Taken in last 30 days (%)		Take 3x/week or more (%)
	UNC-CH	Ref.	UNC-CH	Ref.	UNC-CH	Ref.	UNC-CH	Ref.
Alcohol	84	90	82	85	72	72	21	20
Tobacco	53	58	42	39	27	29	16	19
Marijuana	36	43	30	25	17	13	4.0	3.1
Hallucinogens	11	12	7.5	5.5	3.7	1.8	0.2	0.1
Amphetamines	9.2	18	3.3	5.6	1.2	2.2	0.2	0.8
Designer drugs	4.7	3.9	3.5	1.8	0.9	0.6	0	0.1
Inhalants	4.5	6.5	2.3	1.9	0.2	0.5	0	0.1
Cocaine	3.8	11	2.3	3.6	0.9	1.1	0	0.2
Sedatives	2.6	6.8	0.9	2.2	0.7	0.9	0	0.2
Opiates	1.4	1.7	0.7	0.5	0.2	0.2	0	0.1
Steroids	0.5	1.2	0.2	0.5	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2
Other drugs	2.4	3.1	1.9	1.3	0.7	0.4	0	0.1

The average number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week at this institution is 4.2 drinks. The national average is 4.5 drinks (based on a sample of 38,715). The percentage of students who report having binged in the last two weeks at this institution is 37% compared to the national average of 39%.

Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Use

• 0.2% of UNC students (1.4 % reference group) had been arrested for DWI/DUI
• 9.3% (12% ref.) had been in trouble with police, residence hall, or other college authorities
• 6.1% (7.5% ref.) had damaged property, pulled fire alarms, etc.
• 26% (35% ref.) had driven a car while under the influence
• 22% (30% ref.) had gotten into an argument or fight
• 0.5% (1.4% ref.) had tried to commit suicide
• 3.0% (4.9% ref.) had seriously thought about suicide
• 13% (13% ref.) had been hurt or injured
• 8.9% (11% ref.) had been taken advantage of sexually
• 3.3% (5.8% ref.) had taken advantage of another sexually
• 2.3% (5.2% ref.) had tried unsuccessfully to stop using
• 6.5% (11% ref.) had thought I might have a drinking or other drug problem
• 18% (20% ref.) had performed poorly on a test or important project
• 37% (36% ref.) had done something I later regretted
• 36% (29% ref.) had missed a class
• 29% (27% ref.) had been criticized by someone I know
• 30% (26% ref.) had had a memory loss
• 49% (48% ref.) had gotten nauseated or vomited
• 56% (61% ref.) had had a hangover

This table compares substance use patterns and consequences of several campus groups: males and females, younger and older, academically more and less successful, and on- and off- campus residents. The numbers given, with the exception of the sample sizes, are percentages.

	Gender		Age		Average Grades		Campus Residence
	F	M	16-20	21+	A-B	C-F	On	Off
Sample sizes	278	117	257	171	341	71	208	184
Currently use (in the past 30 days) alcohol	70	74	67	79	74	61	62	83
Currently use (in the past 30 days) marijuana	16	21	20	12	16	20	15	19
Currently use (in the past 30 days) illegal drugs other than marijuana	5.1	6.8	6.6	3.5	4.4	8.7	5.3	6.0
Had 6 or more binges in the past 2 weeks	3.6	13	6.6	5.3	5.9	7.0	4.8	8.2
Have driven a car while under the influence during the past year	25	30	24	30	26	30	17	37
Have been taken advantage of sexually during past year	9.0	9.5	12	4.1	8.5	11	9.6	8.7
Have taken advantage of another sexually during past year	2.5	5.2	4.3	1.8	3.2	4.2	5.3	1.6

This information is provided by:

UNC Student Health Services
Substance Abuse Education
(919) 966-6586

Matt Sullivan is the Coordinator of Substance Abuse Programs at UNC Student Health.

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to UNC School of Medicine Updated July 2, 1997

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