Hostname: page-component-6d856f89d9-72csx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T08:18:19.791Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Social ecology of substance use by tertiary students: Preliminary findings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Bridie O'Reilly ,
Stuart Carr ,
Floyd Bolitho ,
Charles Roberts  and
Janice Jessen
Bridie O'Reilly*
Affiliation:
School of Health, Education, & Community Services, Faculty of Science, Information Technology & Education, Northern Territory University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia
Stuart Carr
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Floyd Bolitho
Affiliation:
School of Humanities and Social Science, Northern Territory University
Charles Roberts
Affiliation:
School of Health, Education, & Community Services, Northern Territory University
Janice Jessen
Affiliation:
School of Health, Education, & Community Services, Northern Territory University
*
Corresponding author
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study investigated the social ecology of substance use among 162 tertiary students studying at Northern Territory University in April 2000. The sample was predominantly female (69.6%), Australian born (70%), non-Indigenous (77.2%), not active in the labour market (58.8%) and intending to complete an undergraduate degree (62.7%). Substance use was prevalent, and 77.6% of students were current drinkers, 59.4% currently smoked tobacco and 28.5% used other drugs. Polydrug use was evident, with 24.8% of students using more than one substance on the same occasion in the previous month. Substance use tended to be associated with relaxing, socialising and wanting to feel good. Most students were not concerned about their alcohol use and their perceptions of normal drinking behaviour highlight the challenges in addressing substance misuse patterns in this population.

Keywords

Alcoholdrugssubstance misusetertiary studentsindigenoussocial ecology
Type
Articles
Information
South Pacific Journal of Psychology , Volume 13: Special Issue: Substance Use in Northern Australia , 2001 , pp. 13 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © University of Papua New Guinea and Massey University, New Zealand/Aotearoa 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ADCA. (2001). Students Drug Use Alcohol & Drug Council of Australia Bulletin Board “Update” http://www.adca.org.au> >Google Scholar
Banwell, C.L. & Young, D. (1993). Rites of passage: Smoking and the construction of social identity. Drug and Alcohol Review, 12(4), 337–385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bertram, S. & Crundall, I. (1997). Summary of Household Survey of Alcohol Consumption and Related Attitudes February to March 1997. Darwin: Territory Health Services.Google Scholar
Bertram, S. & O'Reilly, B. (1998). Summary of the 1996 Australian Secondary School Alcohol and Drug Survey Northern Territory Findings. Darwin: Living With Alcohol, Territory Health Services Google Scholar
Crundall, I. & Weir, S. (1994). Alcohol and young people in the Northern Territory. Darwin: Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services.Google Scholar
d'Abbs, P. (1992). Alcohol Use in the Northern Territory: February-March 1992. Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research.Google Scholar
Davey, J. & Clarke, J. (1991). Come to the cabaret and get legless: tertiary student ‘event’ drinking. Youth Studies, 10, 30–34.Google Scholar
Donohew, R, Hoyle, R, Clayton, R, Skinner, W, Colon, S, & Rice, R. (1999). Sensation seeking and drug use by adolescents and their friends: Models for marijuana and alcohol. Journal of Studies in Alcohol, 60, 622–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ehrenreich, H., Rinn, T., Kunert, H.J., Moeller, M.R., Poser, W., Schilling, L., Gigerenzer, G. & Hoehe, M. (1999). Specific attentional dysfunction in adults following early onset of cannabis use. Psychopharmacology, 142(3), 295–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fleming, J. (2002). Young, eager and drunk, http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1739.50244(15 04, 2002)Google Scholar
Ferguson, D.M. & Horwood, L.J. (1997). Early onset cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in young adults. Addictions, 92, 279–96CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitzsimmons, G. & Cooper-Stanbury, M. (2000). 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: State and Territory results. AIHW Cat. No. PHE 26. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health & Welfare.Google Scholar
Fountain, J., Bartlett, H., Griffiths, P., Gossop, M., Boys, A. & Strang, J. (1999). Why Say No? Reasons given by young people for not using drugs. Addiction Research, 7(4), 339–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fried, P. (2002). Current and former marijuana use: preliminary findings of a longitudinal study of effects on IQ in young adults. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 166(7), 887–91.Google ScholarPubMed
Hall, W. & Solowij, N. (1999). Adverse effects of cannabis. Lancet, 352, 1611–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, S. (1993). Fun, fashion and frisson. International Journal of Drug Policy, 4(3), 122–129.Google Scholar
Kronabel, B & Marsella, T. (1999). Alcohol and Drug Use Questionnaire Honolulu: University of Hawai'i.Google Scholar
Little, D., Hunter, W., Newell, B., Crundall, I. & Walsh, M. (1995). Responsible Drinking: A Study of Territorian Attitudes and Perceptions. Darwin: Territory Health Services.Google Scholar
Mann, D. (2002). A new look at binge drinking on campus: Harvard researchers update landmark 1997 study. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.55308 (15 04 2002)Google Scholar
Morelli, J. (2002). Campus life includes a steady flow of festive suds. http://my.webmd.eom/content/article/1739.50244 (15 04 2002)Google Scholar
Moyer, P. (2002a). Teen binge drinking starts early with help from the culture. http://my.webmd.com/contents/article/1728.50364 (15 04 2002)Google Scholar
Moyer, P. (2002b). College drinking has roots in student's high school days. http://n1y.webmd.com/contents/article/1728.50530(15 04 2002)Google Scholar
Newcombe, T. & Bentler, P. (1998). Consequences of adolescent drug use: Impact on the lives of young adults. Newbury Park, California: Sage Publications Google Scholar
O'Reilly, B., & Townsend, J. (1999) Young People and Substance Use in the Northern Territory in 1998. Living With Alcohol Darwin: Government Printing Services Google Scholar
Rysavy, P., O'Reilly, B. & Moon, C. (2000). Northern Territory Drug Trends 1999: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Technical Report No 81. Sydney: University NSW.Google Scholar
O'Reilly, B. & Rysavy, P. (2001). Northern Territory Drug Trends 2000: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Technical Report No 104. Sydney: University NSW.Google Scholar
O'Reilly, B. (2002). Northern Territory Drug Trends 2001: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Technical Report No 137. Sydney: University NSW.Google Scholar
Peake, M. (1994). The culture of binge drinking: Alcohol initiation in adolescent males. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 4(1), 62–63.Google Scholar
Perkins, H.W. & Berkowitz, A.D. (1986). Perceiving the community norms of alcohol use among students: some research implications for campus alcohol education programming. International Journal of Addiction, 2, 961–976.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roche, A. & Watt, K. (1999). Drinking and university students: from celebration to inebriation. Drug and Alcohol Review, 18, 389–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saltau, C. (2001). Could it be that young people take drugs because they, ah, like them? http://www.mapinc/media/5 (15 04 2002)Google Scholar
Schall, M., Kemeny, A. & Maltzman, I. (1992). Factors associated with alcohol use in university students. Journal Studies in Alcohol, 53, 123–137.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swain, R, Bates, S. & Chavez, E. (1998). Structural equation socialisation model of substance use among Mexican-American and white non-Hispanic school dropouts. Journal of Adolescent Health 23(3), 128–138 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Task Force National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2002). http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/Reports/TaskForce/TaskForceTOC (15 04 2002)Google Scholar
Thies, C.F., & Register, C.A. (1993). Decriminalisation of marijuana and the demand for alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. The Social Science Journal, 30(4), 385–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Toumbourou, J., Sanson, A., Siddons, H., Smart, D., Prior, M. & Oberklaid, F. (1998). Social-emotional factors modifying the effect of sensation seeking and depression on early adolescent substance use. Australian Psychological Society 33rd Annual Conference, Sydney.Google Scholar
Webb, E., Ashton, C.H., Kelley, P. & Kamali, F. (1996). Alcohol and drug use in UK university students. Lancet, 348, 922–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Werch, C.E.. Gorman, D.R. & Marty, P.J. (1987). Relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol problems in young adults. Journal Drug Education, 17, 261–275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilks, J. (1989). Drinking patterns of Australian tertiary youth. Australian Drug and Alcohol Review, 8, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioural Expression and Biosocial Bases of Sensation Seeking. New York: Cambridge University Press Google Scholar