Alcohol Use,Psychopathology, and Treatment Utilization in a University Mental Health Clinic

In the general population, alcohol use disorders and psychiatric disorders co-occur. Despite ample evidence of the adverse effects of alcohol use on treatment outcomes, these relationships have not been examined among college students presenting at counseling centers. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of hazardous drinking among students receiving counseling at a university counseling center and to examine relationships between alcohol use, symptomatology, and treatment utilization. Participants were 214 students who had terminated therapy within a 3-year period. Intake assessments of alcohol use, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress were harvested from client files. Analyses indicated that 33% of the sample screened positive for hazardous alcohol use. Findings provided preliminary evidence that hazardous drinking is negatively related to both mental health and treatment utilization in university clinics. In light of this association, coupled with high base rates of risky alcohol use among college students, university counseling centers might consider implementing screening and brief intervention for hazardous drinking.