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One Session of Intervention May Curb Irresponsible College Drinking

Ah, the lure of the taboo. College students are often coached to limit alcohol or abstain from drinking at all, but the freedom that college provides is often effective at encouraging an environment where alcohol is consumed heavily.

Adding to the problem, college students may not be very adept at understanding their personal level of drinking compared to the average person their age.

For instance, a young male student in a fraternity may believe that his drinking choices are reasonable because he is only comparing his habits to the other young men around him, where another fraternity across the street may cultivate a very different norm for alcohol consumption.

A study published in 2009 shows that there may be value in a single intervention feedback session in which college students are educated about their drinking levels and habits compared with those of their peers.

Led by Heleen Riper, Ph.D., the study recruited 3,682 participants who completed questionnaires about how much and how often they drank. In response, they were given personalized feedback and advice on whether their drinking patterns were normal for their peer group. Later the same students were resurveyed to determine whether the intervention had changed their behaviors involving alcohol consumption.

The researchers found that even a single session of intervention helped problem drinkers reduce their alcohol consumption. One out of eight reduced his or her alcohol consumption because of the feedback provided in that single session.

The study’s results are encouraging because a single-session personalized intervention could be delivered in many low-cost ways. Students could access feedback about their drinking using the internet or even an application on a mobile phone. It is especially encouraging that the students could access the information at their own convenience.

The method is also attractive because it is so cost-effective. The approach is more of a good health initiative than the normal education and prevention strategies. The sessions also place the responsibility back on the student to modify their drinking behaviors if they find that their habits are out of line with their peers’.

The findings of this study appear in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. They provide very important information for those working to reduce problematic drinking on college campuses. With the low cost involved and the convenience provided to students, it will be a great tool to help students make responsible choices.