Explores whether components of brief interventions could be effectively administered to mixed groups of drinking and non-drinking students. Among at-risk drinkers, significant reductions in heavy drinking episode frequency at four-week follow-up were found for the self-norm group only. Results suggest that self-norm discrepancy enhancement…

Determines the overall strategy for initiating benefit-cost analysis (BCA) in relation to drug abuse prevention programs, followed by definitions of BCA and cost-effectiveness analysis. Determines the most likely population benefit-cost efficiency ratio of 15:1, indicating that there is a $15 savings on every dollar spent on drug abuse education.…

Reviews the scientific literature on children of alcoholics (COAs) from 1988 to 1992, which is divided into two categories: practitioner-oriented and research-oriented. Results indicate that recent research on COAs no longer suffers from earlier methodological problems, and that a large number of COAs are resilient, calling into question…

Heavy-drinking college students tend to overestimate the prevalence of heavy drinking among their peers. Twenty-six heavy-drinking students participated in a survey study of drinking. They were randomized to receive or not receive, by return mail, personal feedback of their drinking compared to population norms. Feedback subjects showed greater…

Research identifies substance abuse intervention competencies using Motivational Interviewing that can be used to teach and evaluate social work students. The study established a set of skills related to Motivational Interviewing; designed a graduate social work class to teach the model; and used the instrument to rate interviewers. Results…

College students (N=100) who had tried to stop someone from driving while drunk, or who someone had tried to stop, provided information about their interactions. Results suggest that the manner in which people intervene can affect the likelihood that the impaired person will not drive. Threat of competence is discussed, as are implications for…

Thirty-seven moderate to heavy college student drinkers completed measures of quantity/frequency, drinking consequences, and attitude questionnaires. Some participants received treatment and feedback, some only feedback. Results show that at 6-month follow-up, the feedback-only group decreased drinks per month. Implications for research and…

Three experiments investigated the impact of anchors on students' estimates of personal alcohol consumption to better understand the role that this form of bias might have in social norm intervention programs. Experiments I and II found that estimates of consumption were susceptible to anchoring effects when an open-answer and a scale-response…

Intercept surveys were conducted with 149 college students each asked to record their alcohol consumption for the previous two weeks using the Timeline Follow-back (TLFB method). Immediately following completion of the pretest TLFB alcohol survey the students were presented with brief educational information defining what constitutes one standard…

Assigned 1,426 university students to four intervention groups. A "norm-setting" intervention program--used to study perceptions and expectations of drinking--was of chief interest. This group was associated with the greatest reductions in the drinking norms attributed to the student body, close friends, living groups, and parents. (RJM)

Anonymous questionnaires administered to 1283 middle school/high school students and 930 college students revealed that most of these students viewed all types of alcohol intervention programs as somewhat effective in reducing alcohol abuse among youth. Analyses revealed that drinking motivations and behavior produced a significant effect on the…

Surveyed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities concerning existence, nature, and effect of drug testing and drug education programs upon college athletes. Findings from 43 head athletic trainers indicated that the trainers believed drug testing helped reduce incidence of drug abuse in college sports programs.…

Conducted study to assess nature and extent of alcohol consumption by college students and to make recommendation about university responses to alcohol use and abuse on campus. Students (n=247) completed questionnaires assessing various alcohol-related issues. Results were used to guide in planning and implementation of alcohol education,…

Surveyed undergraduate students (n=152) to examine whether there is a relationship between an early first intoxication experience and development of alcohol or drug problems in later college life. Results indicated that those students who reported earliest experiences of intoxication also reported greatest frequency of substance abuse problems.…

Evaluated effectiveness of the Alcohol Information School, a seven-hour classroom experience required for university students (n=31) who were involved in conduct violations while using alcohol. Results showed significant increases in knowledge and suggests long-term effects of decreased use and decreased incidence of problems associated with…