SITUATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF HEAVY DRINKING AMONG COLLEGE-STUDENTS

The situations associated with excessive drinking among college students were investigated. Seventy-eight undergraduates completed an assessment of their recent drinking patterns and the Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS). In comparison with light and moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers were more likely to report excessive drinking in situations involving social pressure to drink, pleasant times with others, pleasant emotions, and physical discomfort. Heavy drinkers were no more likely than light and moderate drinkers to drink excessively in response to unpleasant emotions, testing of personal control, or urges and temptations to drink. The findings suggest that the IDS is a promising assessment tool for identifying triggers of excessive drinking among at-risk college student drinkers.