title: Hazardous, harmful and dependent drinking in hostel-dwelling students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hazardous, harmful and dependent drinking among hostel-dwelling students on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), and the influence of sex and academic year on the habit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quarter of all hostel-dwelling students of UFS were selected by systematic random sampling. Willing participants completed a questionnaire comprising a demographic section and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 339 participants with total AUDIT scores, 15.6% exhibited hazardous drinking, 4.1% harmful drinking and 5.6% alcohol dependence. Male students had a statistically significant higher prevalence (32.8%) of hazardous, harmful or dependent drinking than female students (18.9%). Women, however, are biologically more vulnerable to the ill effects of alcohol due to altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alcohol. In addition, intoxicated women suffer more biological and social risks. When the cut-off point for hazardous drinking was adapted to account for the increased biological vulnerability of women, the difference between female and male participants was no longer significant. First year male students were less likely to engage in unsafe drinking than senior students. Female students in the alcohol dependent category showed an increasing trend over advancing academic year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Follow-up studies are needed to confirm whether a significant difference in hazardous drinking of first year male students compared to seniors reflects the influence of university policy or merely precedes drinking acculturation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of the Free State , Bloemfontein , South Africa.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Zyl
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of the Free State , Bloemfontein , South Africa.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of the Free State , Bloemfontein , South Africa.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Wyk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of the Free State , Bloemfontein , South Africa.
authors.forename: Jaco
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breytenbach
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of the Free State , Bloemfontein , South Africa.
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of the Free State , Bloemfontein , South Africa.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Niekerk
authors.affiliation: b Statistical Consultation Services, Potchefstroom Campus , North-West University , Potchefstroom , South Africa.
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Breytenbach
mesh_terms: D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities