Alcohol and Drug Use by College Males as a Function of Family Alcoholism History

Family history of alcoholism increases the risk for development of alcoholism in male offspring. The present questionnaire study examined self‐reported alcohol and drug use in 744 college males as a function of DSM‐IllR alcohol dependence diagnoses in first‐ and/ or second‐degree biological relatives. Substance use was most prevalent and most frequent in students with both first‐ and second‐degree alcohol‐dependent family members, was intermediate in students with only first‐degree affected relatives, and was least in students with no affected relatives. Students with both first‐ and second‐degree alcohol‐dependent relatives reported: more alcohol, marijuana, sedative, and cocaine ingestion; a younger age at first alcohol intoxication and first marijuana use; experience with less commonly used drugs; and more personal substance‐related problems as well as more family mental health care. These data have significant prevention implications for targeting at‐risk youth.