Alcohol misuse among college students and other young adults: findings from a general population study in New York State.

The predictors of heavier drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems are examined for young adults aged 18 to 25 years by using a large representative sample. The sample includes both college students and noncollege students. Young adult males have the highest rates of alcohol misuse when compared with all other age groups. Beginning to drink at an early age and growing up with a heavy drinking father are strong predictors of both current heavier drinking and alcohol-related problems. For males, the effect of father's heavy drinking is especially strong. Furthermore, living in a dorm as a college student makes a unique contribution to alcohol misuse.