Behavior; Substance

Persons in the Northern Territory who drink have the highest per capita daily consumption of alcohol and the highest rate of tobacco smoking in Australia. This study identifies the drinking patterns and demographic and personal variables that might predict risk levels for Northern Territory University (NTU) students and therefore give direction to health promotion programs. The sample comprised 430 NTU students ages 18 and older. Assessment of questionnaires shows that there is not on the whole a serious drinking problem at NTU, but that there is a small group of heavy drinkers that could bes.ef;,t from alcohol education. Ethnic origins, position in family, and type of drink preferred were related to drinking patterns. Males drink more heavily than females, with males typically drinking beer and females drinking wine. Ethnicity showed a consistent link to alcohol consumption; the highest risk individuals tended to be beer-drinkers of Australian or United Kingdom extraction. Marital status, income, accommodation and age were related to student smoking. A higher percentage of younger females smoked than males; thus, anti-smoking campaigns should especially target younger students and females. Findings are illustrated with 11 pie charts and 6 graphs; the questionnaire is appended. (LSR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document