Magnitude of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18-24.

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Interventions designed to reduce heavy drinking among college students often contain suggestions for drinking control strategies. However, little is known about the relationship of the use of these strategies to alcohol consumption. This study developed a measure of drinking control strategies and investigated its psychometric properties in a sample of 250 college drinkers. Strategies clustered into three factors: selective avoidance of heavy drinking activities/situations, strategies used while drinking, and alternatives to drinking. These three types of strategies were independently associated with alcohol use; however, the first and last types were negatively associated with alcohol consumption, whereas the second type was positively associated with alcohol use. The findings from this study suggest that type of strategy recommended may be important when the goal is alcohol reduction. Keywordsdrinking control strategies; alcohol use; college students Surveys of drinking in national samples of college campuses revealed that between 34 to 44% of students met criteria for heavy drinking (Douglas et al., 1997;Wechsler et al., 2002). Heavy drinking can lead to health risks (e.g., blackouts, personal injuries, physical illnesses, and unprotected sexual activity), in addition to academic, interpersonal, and legal problems (Hingson, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2005;Perkins, 2002;Aertgeerts & Buntinx, 2002). Due to the substantial risks associated with heavy college drinking, innovative risk reduction strategies are needed. Effective intervention programs have combined information, normative feedback and values clarification within a context of teaching college students skills to moderate risky drinking behaviors (Larimer & Cronce, 2002).Skills-based interventions are designed to modify high risk drinking behaviors in two ways: (a) teaching how to cope with life stresses in ways other than alcohol use (e.g., building alternative stress management, relaxation, and social skills), and (b) teaching alcohol-specific harm reduction skills (e.g., drinking in ways to avoid extreme intoxication and negative consequences). These intervention components evolved from self-management approaches for controlled drinking. For example, Miller and Muñoz (2005) developed a manual titled Controlling Your Drinking which outlines self-control strategies in three domains: while you drink, before you drink, and instead of drinking. The 'while you drink' strategies focus on slowing down drinking. The 'before you drink' strategies focus on teaching ways to gain control over drinking by understanding and changing antecedents that lead to heavy drinking. Lastly, the 'instead of drinking' strategies focus on gaining understanding of the reinforcers of alcohol use and teaching alternate ways to achieve these reinforcing effects without alcohol use.Many skills-based interventions designed for college students offer a menu of strategies or tips to students to help them moderate their drinking. However, little is known about the relationship...

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between drinking control strategies and college student alcohol use.

Sugarman

Carey

2007

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191

“…However, prevention efforts should consist of more than a birthday card. Keywords 21st birthday; alcohol; alcohol-related problems; social norms; personalized normative feedback Heavy drinking among college students has been associated with a wide range of consequences (Hingson, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2005;Hingson, Heeren, Zakocs, Kopstein, & Wechsler, 2002; Johnston, O'Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2004). Recently, investigators have begun to document a number of specific events where drinking appears to be elevated .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

21st birthday celebratory drinking: Evaluation of a personalized normative feedback card intervention.

Lewis¹,

Neighbors²,

Lee³

et al. 2008

This research was designed to evaluate a personalized normative feedback birthday card intervention aimed at reducing normative perceptions, alcohol consumption, and negative consequences associated with 21st birthday celebrations among college students (N = 281; 59.15% women). Students were randomly assigned to receive or not receive a birthday card about 1 week prior to their 21st birthday. Approximately 1 week following their birthday, students were asked to complete a brief survey concerning their birthday celebration activities. Findings indicated that the birthday card intervention was not successful at reducing drinking or consequences; however, the card did reduce normative misperceptions. Additional findings indicated that many students experienced negative consequences, such as passing out or driving after consuming alcohol. Combined, these findings suggest that prevention is needed for drinking associated with turning 21. However, prevention efforts should consist of more than a birthday card. Keywords 21st birthday; alcohol; alcohol-related problems; social norms; personalized normative feedback Heavy drinking among college students has been associated with a wide range of consequences (Hingson, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2005;Hingson, Heeren, Zakocs, Kopstein, & Wechsler, 2002; Johnston, O'Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2004). Recently, investigators have begun to document a number of specific events where drinking appears to be elevated . Events being evaluated include holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving, New Year's), spring break, and sporting events (Del Boca, Darkes, Greenbaum, & Goldman, 2004;Greenbaum, Del Boca, Darkes, Wang, & Goldman, 2005;Lee, Maggs, & Rankin, 2006;, as well as 21st birthday celebrations (Hembroff, Atkin, Martell, McCue, & Greenamyer, 2007;Neighbors, Spieker, Oster-Aaland, Lewis, & Bergstrom, 2005;Smith, Bogle, Talbott, Gant, & Castillo, 2006 NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscriptto evaluate the efficacy of a personalized normative feedback (PNF) 21st birthday card in reducing normative misperceptions, drinking, and related consequences. In addition, the present research was designed to extend previous examinations of extreme drinking associated with 21st birthday celebrations by exploring drinking context (e.g., at a bar) and alcohol-related consequences in connection with this milestone event.For the purpose of this research, PNF refers to an approach in which individuals are provided with information that explicitly presents feedback regarding report of one's own drinking, one's perception of the drinking norm, and the actual drinking norm Lewis, Neighbors, Oster-Aaland, Kirkeby, & Larimer, 2007;Neighbors, Larimer, & Lewis, 2004;Neighbors, Lewis, Bergstrom, & Larimer, 2006). The birthday card used in the present research provided feedback on one's perception of the 21st birthday drinking norm, as well as the actual 21st birthday drinking norm for the typical student. However, it should be noted that, as the intervention aimed to pre...

“…Alcohol-related consequences; Event-level analyses; daily drinking diaries; moderation effects College students report experiencing a wide range of academic, interpersonal, health, and legal consequences due to alcohol use (e.g., Presley, Meilman, & Lyerla, 1994); estimates place the number of alcohol-related deaths among college students at 1,400 per year and alcohol-related injuries at over 500,000 per year (Hingson, Heeren, Zakocs, Kopstein, & Wechsler, 2002). As such, alcohol-related problems continue to concern college administrators, alcohol researchers, and the parents of students (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between alcohol intoxication and alcohol-related problems: An event-level analysis.

Neal

Carey

2007

Heavy drinking students experience a myriad of alcohol-related negative consequences. Use of eventlevel data permits predictions to be made regarding (a) the likelihood of alcohol-related consequences occurring after specific drinking events, and (b) moderators of the association between intoxication and consequences. College students (N = 183, 64% female) completed four consecutive 7-day drinking diaries and turned them in weekly. The diaries yielded prospective event-level data on daily drinks, time spent drinking, and negative consequences related to each drinking event. Alcohol intoxication on a given day was significantly associated with increased levels of risk, although this association was moderated by average level of intoxication. Furthermore, self-control was associated with increased likelihood of negative consequences at all levels of intoxication, and self-regulation and impulsivity moderated the event-level association between daily intoxication and likelihood of negative consequences. Results suggest that self-regulation subsumes impulsivity and self-control. KeywordsAlcohol-related consequences; Event-level analyses; daily drinking diaries; moderation effects College students report experiencing a wide range of academic, interpersonal, health, and legal consequences due to alcohol use (e.g., Presley, Meilman, & Lyerla, 1994); estimates place the number of alcohol-related deaths among college students at 1,400 per year and alcohol-related injuries at over 500,000 per year (Hingson, Heeren, Zakocs, Kopstein, & Wechsler, 2002). As such, alcohol-related problems continue to concern college administrators, alcohol researchers, and the parents of students (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2002). Relevant foci for research on alcohol-related consequences include: (a) identification of patterns of alcohol consumption that lead to problems; and (b) risk factors that can increase the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related consequences.The association between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences can be characterized using global-or event-level data. Global measures summarize some aspect of a person's drinking as a sum or average (e.g., average drinks per drinking day), whereas eventlevel data capture details of a particular drinking event (e.g., daily quantities). Although global measures of alcohol use have considerable utility in many contexts, their use can obscure information such as frequency or variability. A similar problem exists with measures of alcohol-related consequences. Although questionnaires such as the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI; White & Labouvie, 1989) and the Young Adult Alcohol Problem Screening Test (YAAPST;Hurlbut & Sher, 1992) and intensity of alcohol-related consequences, they fall short in capturing the acute relation between a drinking event and consequences experienced as a result of that event.The primary strength of event-level data collection is that it provides greater flexibility in modeling the relation between consum...