Audio Survey says drinking, smoking is common on campus (story audio) Photos Edward Ehlinger Yolanda LaMar More from MPR Risky behavior affects academic performance, study says (02/10/2005) Officials trying to stop off-campus drinking (10/05/2005) Charges filed in alcohol death of Moorhead student (10/10/2005) Resources See the survey Tools E-mail this page Print this page Sponsor

Boynton Health Services director Edward Ehlinger says the intersection of smoking and drinking among students is disturbing. (MPR Photo/Art Hughes)

A survey released of more than 6,700 Twin Cities college students finds drinking alcohol and smoking is common on campuses. The survey also finds a strong correlation between smoking and heavy drinking. The survey was coordinated by researchers at the University of Minnesota, but sampled students from 17 different schools.

Minneapolis, Minn. — The numbers put data to the common knowledge that college students are apt to smoke and drink.

Just under a third of the students surveyed said they smoke -- at least occasionally. Only one in 10 says he or she smokes every day. A much higher percentage drink, with more than 60 percent saying they'd been drunk in the past year. About 35 percent say they'd gotten drunk at least once a month in that time.

The University of Minnesota's Boynton Health Service coordinated the survey. Boynton director Edward Ehlinger says the intersection of smoking and drinking among students is disturbing.

"Among all students the smokers have 67 percent high risk drinking rate -- incredibly high. Eighteen- to 24-year-olds: it goes up to 79 percent. So there's a real link between alcohol use and tobacco use," according to Ehlinger.

High-risk drinking is defined as five or more drinks at one time. Overall, about half of male students and less than 40 percent of females say they've engaged in high risk drinking. The numbers go down as the ages go up.

The survey finds most smokers -- 75 percent -- start smoking before they enter college. Ehlinger says the results indicate efforts during the college years to prevent smoking could work to keep the remaining 25 percent from starting and helping the rest quit.

"It's not just a problem of 18 to 24 year olds. It extends far beyond that. It's a problem on college campuses and it's a issues beyond the college campuses also," he says.

Alcohol is a difficult issue because it's very accepted in our society. We're not going to just go into prohibition. - Katherine Lust

The survey provides some of the first research ever about smoking and drinking at two-year schools. For instance, community colleges and technical schools have more heavy smokers.

"Four-year schools have a lower intensity of use because generally it's a younger population and they're just beginning their tobacco use behavior," he says.

The results aren't separated to allow comparison's between campuses. Researchers felt such a comparison would discourage participation.

Like many campuses, the University of Minnesota has a host of smoking cessation programs and alcohol education efforts. But Boynton researcher Katherine Lust says changing students behaviors is an uphill battle. By and large, smoking and drinking are legal and socially acceptable activities.

"Alcohol is a difficult issue because it's very accepted in our society. We're not going to just go into prohibition. So we have to educate students how to drink responsibly if they're going to choose to drink. It's more than just preventing," she says.

Lust says the data will be used to figure out how well campus smoking programs work.

Student Stefan Johnson lit a cigarette outside the Humphrey Institute where the researchers presented their findings. He started smoking when he was 17. He says he isn't surprised by the numbers.

"I think college just induces it partially. Just due to the stress factors," he says.

Johnson says he doesn't drink heavily, but he agrees smoking and drinking go together.

"When I do go out and drink socially, I prefer to have a cigarette with my drink. Even with the smoking ban it's still the same effect. You'll sit in a bar and have a drink. But you will go outside and have a drink to accompany that."

Johnson says he tried unsuccessfully to quit just once.

Another student, Yolanda LaMar, enjoys a cigarette as she strolls across a campus courtyard. She says drinking and smoking are vices that seem to compliment each other.

"I see that a lot with my friends who are social smokers. They only smoke when they drink. I've noticed when I do go out I smoke a lot more when I'm drinking. So I think there's a direct correlation with that," she says.

LaMar says smoking among students is an unfortunate reality.

"It's a horrible habit," LaMar says. "Everybody's trying to quit and it's really hard. At the university it's seen everywhere and it's just the thing you do."

The study found much more than half of student smokers tried to quit an average of three times in the last year.