Peer reviewed
ERIC Number: EJ725704
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Nov-1
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
A Systematic Analysis of College Substance Use Policies
Hirschfeld, Lindsay M.; Edwardson, Karin L.; McGovern, Mark P.
Journal of American College Health, v54 n3 p169 Nov 2005
College substance use policies provide guidelines for student behavior and influence campus culture. Although they are the primary environmental strategy to address campus substance use, policies have not been systematically compared and studied. We constructed a systematic review method to examine the accessibility, comprehensiveness, enforcement procedures, and clarity of college substance use policies. We developed an objective evaluation scheme for each of these 4 dimensions and then applied it to documented substance use policies from a sample of colleges and universities (N = 24). Policies were found to vary considerably but tended to specify compliance with local laws and emphasize student health and well-being. The next stage of campus policy review should examine actual implementation, evaluate potential differentiating factors among institutions, and assess the influence of policy on campus climate and student outcomes.
Descriptors: Student Behavior, College Students, Substance Abuse, School Policy, Health Promotion, Compliance (Legal), Rating Scales, Test Construction, Policy Analysis, Policy Formation
Heldref Publications, Helen Dwight Reid Educational Foundation, 1319 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802. Web site: http://www.heldref.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A