Alcohol use among US dental students: Results of a nationwide survey

Purpose/objectives: Substance use may be a consequence of dental student stress. Studies have examined the alcohol use among medical students, but there are fewer studies among dental students. The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol use in a large geographically diverse sample of US Dental Students. Methods: An anonymous web-based survey instrument was modeled after well-known surveys of college student substance use. Survey data collection used best practices for web-based surveys when possible. Results: 2019 responses were collected with the cooperation of fifteen US dental schools (potential sample size: 6029; RR: 7.6%, n = 463). 2021 responses were collected using the American Student Dental Association email list (potential sample size: 18,722; RR: 2.2%, n = 424). Respondents came from all regions of the US. Thirty-day alcohol usage and binge drinking rates were somewhat higher among dental students than college-age students from other surveys. Women's 30-day prevalence of alcohol use was slightly higher than men, but binge drinking prevalence was greater among men. Prevalence of binge drinking was higher among white students, as was mean drinks per drinking occasion. Students who self-reported below average academic performance were more likely to report drinking to get away from problems and had a higher prevalence of some alcohol-related problems (ARPs). Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this study, the results are consistent with that of other studies. This study has provided some valuable insight into the prevalence of alcohol usage and ARPs among US dental students. Of special concern are the reasons for drinking as mechanisms for relieving tension and stress, which may continue into dental practice.