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Substance-Free Dorm Residents Drink Less
February 13, 2001

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Research Summary

A new study revealed that many students who choose to live in substance-free residence halls still drink heavily, but at rates less then their peers, the Scripps Howard News Service reported Feb. 7.

Students generally choose substance-free dormitories to be away from the noise of peers who binge drink or to avoid the smell of cigarettes. But a study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that 32 percent of those living in substance-free residence halls still drink heavily.

"They just don't want to live with the mess, bottom line," said Gary Schwarzmueller, executive director of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. "The motivations for people to choose substance-free are varied. Some people don't believe in it, others just don't want to be around it. I'd say many people don't want to bother with the disruption that that brings."

Henry Wechsler, the study's lead author and director of College Alcohol Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health, put a more positive spin on the study. He said substance-free dorms are "not a one-shot cure-all. Students still do drink, but there are less heavy drinkers in these residences than in non-restricted campus housing."

According to the study, 52 percent of students living in unrestricted student housing drink heavily, compared to 32 percent in substance-free facilities. Heavy drinking was defined as having at least four drinks in a row in the previous two weeks.

Furthermore, the study showed that students in substance-free dorms were less likely to accept a ride with an impaired driver, and no more likely to drive under the influence themselves. "One of the popular misconceptions is if there's no drinking in these houses, they just go someplace else to drink and get into trouble with drinking and driving," said Wechsler. "This study shows it is not the case."

The results are based on a poll of students at 52 colleges throughout the United States.

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