Understanding Attitudes Toward Drug Use

Previous research (Simons & Carey, 1998) indicates that heavy users of alcohol have attitudes that are based on their feelings about alcohol, whereas light users or non-users have attitudes that are strongly based on thoughts and beliefs about alcohol, rather than on feelings. In the current study, we surveyed 150 collegeaged participants about their attitudes toward alcohol and the extent of their experience with drinking alcohol. We found that 95% of participants reported having used alcohol, and half of our participants reported using alcohol once a week or more. There was a significant difference in the thoughts, feelings and attitudes of heavy users of alcohol as opposed to light users, as predicted by previous research. Last, our results showed that the younger people are when they report starting drinking, the more drinks they consumed per week when compared to those who started drinking at an older age. These findings have implications for understanding how to effectively present and discuss information about the risks of excessive drinking to college-aged students