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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
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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

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