Heavy Drinking, Levels of Stress High Among University Students – Canadian Campus Survey

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2005 (Toronto) - Rates of cigarette smoking are in decline among university students but rates of binge drinking and psychological distress remain high according to the results of the 2004 Canadian Campus Survey released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

The 2004 survey shows that rates of cigarette smoking and the use of hallucinogens have declined since the survey was last conducted in 1998 (4% and 3%, respectively) but as these behaviours have declined, results also show that some problematic trends still prevail. Results of the survey show that 32% of undergraduates reported patterns of harmful drinking. Though this rate has not increased since the survey was last conducted, these numbers are high and only tell part of the story. Consequences such as alcohol-related harms were evident in the survey with 10% of those surveyed reporting alcohol-related assault, 9.8% reporting alcohol-related sexual harassment and 14.1% reporting that they had experienced unplanned sexual relations due to alcohol. According to Dr. Adlaf, research scientist at CAMH and associate professor, Department of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, who conducted the study along with colleagues across Canada, "Reports of alcohol-related harms are not trivial. Indeed, the 10% of students who report such consequences represent some 64,000 students."

Another troubling outcome in the survey involves the mental health of Canadian students. Rates of students reporting psychological stress have remained high at 30%. Indicators in the survey show that respondents reported that they experienced lack of sleep, were under constant stress and exhibited feelings of unhappiness and depression.

These feelings may have negative consequences on the health and academic success of students. According to co-investigator Dr. Andrée Demers, professor, Department of Sociology Université de Montréal, "Students living under these conditions tend to exhibit lack of concentration, absenteeism and many leave school before they graduate," she says. In addition, the rates of psychological distress were found to be higher among women than men (33.5% vs. 23.9%). Other Survey highlights include:

• 31.6% of undergraduates reported at least one indicator of dependent drinking such as being unable to stop, failing to perform normal everyday activities or needing a drink first thing in the morning.
• The most commonly used illicit drug was cannabis, used by 51.4% of students during their lifetime, 32.1% during the past 12 months, and 16.7% during the 30 days before the survey.
• 61.5% of undergraduates have bet or spent money on at least one gambling activity since the beginning of the school year.

Results of the survey may indicate that universities themselves may have a role in the behaviour of students. One-quarter of students surveyed said that they had taken advantage of low priced promotions at campus bars and believe that alcohol policies on their campus are not enforced.

According to co-investigator Dr. Louis Gliksman, Director of Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research at CAMH and Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, universities have to assume a larger role in the presence of alcohol on their campuses, "While we are aware that some universities prohibit alcohol in residences and that many have begun 'dry frosh week,' the numbers show that more needs to be done on the part of universities together with the communities of which the universities are part."

The Canadian Campus Survey surveyed 6,282 full-time students from 40 universities across Canada. Funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the survey aims to understand the social and environmental determinants of hazardous drinking, drug use and psychological well-being among students.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre and a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. 

-30-

For more information or to schedule interviews with survey investigators, please contact Michael Torres, media relations CAMH, at (416) 595-6015.

• Print Bookmark