2004 California Safer Universities – Student
Survey Executive Summary
The 2004 Safer California
Universities Study baseline survey was conducted by a team of researchers led
by Dr. Robert Saltz at the Prevention Research Center
(PRC), a center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
(PIRE). MSIResearch,
the academic research division of Market Strategies, Inc. conducted the data
collection in support of this study. The
main purpose for this research is to collect data on alcohol and other drug use
on collaborating campuses within the University
of California and California Sate University
systems.
This executive summary is
designed to present highlights from the survey data in a conventional
format. Some features of the Safer
California Universities study are unique, however. For example, whereas many surveys measure
alcohol or drug use in the past year, our emphasis on behavior while on
campus leads us to measure use or problems just during the academic year (since
the semester or quarter began).
Key Findings from students at California State
University Chico Undergraduates
Following are some key findings
on the use of alcohol
- 89.8% of the students consumed alcohol in the past
year (“annual prevalence”).
- 77.9% of the students consumed alcohol in the past 30
days (“30-day prevalence”).
- 73.3% of underage students (younger than 21) consumed
alcohol in the previous 30 days.
- 63.4% of students reported binge drinking in the
previous two weeks. A binge is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks for
males and 4 or more drinks for females in one sitting.
Following are some key findings
on the use of illegal drugs
- 42.0% of the students have used marijuana in the past
semester/quarter (“semester/quarter prevalence”).
- 13.7% of the students have used an illegal drug other
than marijuana in the past semester/quarter (“semester/quarter
prevalence”).
The most frequently reported
illegal drugs used in the past semester/quarter were:
- 42.0% Marijuana (pot, hash, hash oil)
- 7.5% Cocaine (crack, coke, rock, snow)
- 6.5% Amphetamines (crank, ice, speed, uppers, diet
pills, etc.)
Following are some key findings
on the consequences of alcohol use:
- 28.1% reported some form of public misconduct (such
as trouble with police, fighting/argument, DWI/DUI, vandalism) at least once
during the past semester/quarter as a result of drinking.
- 49.6% reported experiencing some kind of serious
personal problems (such as suicidality, being
hurt or injured, trying unsuccessfully to stop using, sexual assault) at
least once during the past semester/quarter as a result of drinking.
- 63.0% reported experiencing some kind of minor
personal problem (such as missing class, having a memory loss, having a
hangover, vomiting) at least once during the past semester/quarter as a
result of drinking.
With regard to students’ perceptions
of other students’ use:
- 63.7 % of students believe their friends on campus
use alcohol once a week or more.
- 91.3 % of students believe male students on campus
use alcohol once a week or more.
- 81.0 % of students believe female students on campus
use alcohol once a week or more.
Sample Demographics
- 20.0% were freshmen
- 13.2% were sophomores
- 26.7% were juniors
- 40.1% were seniors
- 0.2% were other
- 42.0% were under 21 years old.
- 62.6% were female.
- 83.4% lived off campus.
- 96.4% were full-time students.