#SubstanceAbusePrevention

A new study from the University of Texas at Arlington reveals that peer pressure and misperceptions of campus drinking norms fuel risky alcohol use among college students. The findings, published in Substance Use & Misuse, show many students overestimate how much their peers drink. That mistaken belief pushes them to drink more and increases the likelihood of academic, social, and health harms. Importantly, the researchers identify practical strategies that help students resist pressure and reduce harm, even where heavy drinking feels normative.

A new study from The University of Texas at Arlington has shed light on how peer pressure and mistaken beliefs about campus drinking culture are fueling risky alcohol consumption among college students—insights that carry significant lessons for university communities around the globe, including Thailand. The research, published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse, finds that students tend to overestimate how much their peers drink, which in turn drives up their own alcohol intake and increases the risk of academic, social, and health consequences. Crucially, the researchers also identified simple strategies that can empower students to resist this pressure and reduce alcohol-related harm, even in environments where heavy drinking feels like the norm (neurosciencenews.com).