This study examined the relationship between the individual's purpose in life, existential anxiety, powerlessness and use of alcohol/drugs and the tendency to be sexually promiscuous. The study is rooted in the work of Viktor E. Frankl, which suggested that a lack of meaning and purpose can cause socially deviant behavior and psychological problems. College students (N=344) participated in the study, filling out a variety of research instruments. Results indicate a significant relationship between lack of meaning in life and social deviance. Powerlessness and existential anxiety, when examined separately, did not seem to predict alcohol and drug use, but the linear combinations of low purpose in life, high existential anxiety, and high powerlessness proved a significant predictor of alcohol and drug use. Males tended to use more alcohol and drugs, to be more sexually promiscuous, and to feel more existential anxiety and powerlessness than females. Drug involvement was significantly greater for students with low GPAs than for students with high GPAs. The former also showed lower purpose in life, higher existential anxiety, and tended to be more sexually promiscuous. Students having no religion show significantly lower purpose in life scores than did religious students. (RJM)