College students who tan compulsively may not be doing so merely for that golden glow, according to a study published recently in the medical journal Archives of Dermatology. It’s because they’re dangerously hooked – on ultraviolet rays.

Of more than 400 students surveyed, tanning bed enthusiasts matched two different psychological criteria for addiction, the study found. This propensity also caused the compulsive tanners to binge on alcohol and drugs more frequently: 42 percent of tanning addicts reported using more than one drug in the previous month, double the rate of casual sun-seekers.

A co-author of the study theorized that the endorphins released in a tanning bed session might be the reason tanning addicts also turned to mind-altering substances as well. Compulsive tanners suffer disproportionately from anxiety, which could in turn lead to behaviors that help them relax and decompress.

A vicious cycle of booze, drugs and tanning: who knew? Oh, wait, these guys did:

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 at 8:35 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.