Trouble Brewing: Pregaming Among High School and Incoming College Students

• Published in: Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 14 - 17
• Main Authors: Zamboanga, Byron L, Tomaso, Cara C, Haas, Amie L, Olthuis, Janine V, Borish, Sarah, Borsari, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; At risk students; College professors; College students; Colleges & universities; Cross-sectional studies; Female; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Male; Nursing; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Sports; Students - psychology; United States - epidemiology; United States; Palo Alto California; United States > US
• ISSN: 0279-3695; 1938-2413
• DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20130828-01

Pregaming (a.k.a., “prepartying,” “pre-funking,” or “predrinking”) consists of drinking before going to a social function or gathering where alcohol may or may not be served. Existing research suggests that pregaming in high school and pre-college (i.e., the period between high school graduation and the start of college) is widespread. Moreover, pregaming prevalence appears to rapidly increase after students graduate from high school and transition into college. Thus, the purpose of this brief review is threefold: (a) to summarize the existing (albeit limited) research on pregaming among high school students and incoming college freshmen, (b) to present an overview of the risk factors that have been identified for participation in pregaming, and (c) to discuss the implications for practice that may be particularly relevant for school-employed/affiliated nurses as well as health practitioners who work in college settings. [Pregaming (a.k.a., “prepartying,” “pre-funking,” or “predrinking”) consists of drinking before going to a social function or gathering where alcohol may or may not be served. Existing research suggests that pregaming in high school and pre-college (i.e., the period between high school graduation and the start of college) is widespread. Moreover, pregaming prevalence appears to rapidly increase after students graduate from high school and transition into college. Thus, the purpose of this brief review is threefold: (a) to summarize the existing (albeit limited) research on pregaming among high school students and incoming college freshmen, (b) to present an overview of the risk factors that have been identified for participation in pregaming, and (c) to discuss the implications for practice that may be particularly relevant for school-employed/affiliated nurses as well as health practitioners who work in college settings. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services , 51(10), 14–17.]