2018 CORE Alcohol & Drug Survey
Main Content
Published September 2019
The survey was sent February 2018 to a representative sample (pdf) of 12,000 undergraduates of whom approximately 8% responded.
Binging is defined as males having 5 and women having 4 or more drinks in one setting.
46.5% of Illinois students binged within the previous two weeks compared to 38.1% of their regional counterparts.
On the positive side, 53.5% of Illinois students don't binge.
67.8% of Illinois students consumed alcohol in the past year compared to 65.1% of their counterparts.
Consequences of Drinking
2% of Illinois students got into trouble with campus police, residence hall, or other college authorities.
Reference Group: 2.8%
14.1% of Illinois students got into an argument or verbal fight.
Reference Group: 13.8%
2.7% of Illinois students got into a physical fight.
Reference Group: 3.2%
9.7% of Illinois students went to a class under the influence.
Reference Group: 6.5%
10.4% of Illinois students performed poorly on a test or important project.
Reference Group: 9%
6.4% of Illinois students injured themselves.
Reference Group: 5.4%
5.3% of Illinois students seriously thought about suicide.
Reference Group: 4.2%
1.1% of Illinois students seriously tried to commit suicide.
Reference Group: 1.2%
4.5% of Illinois students had sex when didn't want to.
Reference Group: 4.7%
5.5% of Illinois students had unprotected sex when otherwise might not have.
Reference Group: 6.6%
2.4% of Illinois students drove a car while under the influence.
Reference Group: 8.4%
6.2% of Illinois students rode in a car with the drive under the influence.
Reference Group: 14.1%
Key Drug Findings
36.3% of Illinois students were more likely to have used marijuana in the past year than their counterparts (24.2%).
Among Illinois students, 21.5% reported using marijuana in the last 30 days compared to 16.4% of their counterparts.
Prescription drugs, as an overall category, have become the third most used and abused substance on college campuses.
13.5% of Illinois students reported using a prescription drug in the past year and 14.2% in the past 30 days compared to 13.9% and 13.8% of their counterparts.
Social Norming Findings
85.5% of students believe the average student on campus uses alcohol once a week or more often, but in fact, only 47.5% of actual students report usage at that rate.
71.8% of students believe the average student on campus uses marijuana once a week or more often, but in fact, only 18.6% of actual students report usage at that rate.
58.2% of students believe the average student on campus uses tobacco once a week or more often, but in fact, only 7.2% of actual students report usage at that rate.
11.2% of students believe the average student on campus uses prescription pain medication once a week or more often, but in fact, only 0.7% of actual students report usage at that rate.
30.2% of students believe the average student on campus uses prescription stimulants once a week or more often, but in fact, only 1.6% of actual students report usage at that rate.