|
| Preventing High-Risk Drinking in College Settings |
| Saturday, May 29, 2004 |
| 1:00 PM–2:20 PM |
| Fairfax B |
| Area: EAB/CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Kent E. Glindemann (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: Preventing High-Risk Drinking in College Settings |
| |
| An Effective Incentive/Reward Intervention for Reducing Intoxication at Fraternity Parties |
| IAN J. EHRHART (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Kristin A. Williamson (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Nathan Elstein (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Stefanie Linden (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), E. Scott Geller (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: This field study examined the efficacy of an intervention designed to decrease alcohol abuse by university students. The harm reduction approach, in combination with differential reinforcement, was used to reduce alcohol consumption and its behavioral outcome, blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Participants included 702 university students attending one of twelve fraternity parties. Six fraternities were randomly assigned to the Control or Intervention condition. Each of these fraternities hosted two parties. The intervention included an incentive/reward contingency, a nomogram to aid in BAC monitoring, and a brief awareness session prior to an intervention party. During the intervention phase, participants with a BAC below .05 were entered into a raffle to win a cash prize. Upon entry to an intervention party, participants were given flyers announcing the raffle and contingency, and gender-specific nomograms. Individual BACs were compared between baseline and intervention parties with a nested analysis of covariance and the factorial of 2 Conditions X 2 Gender X 3 Fraternities nested within each condition. For the Intervention fraternities, mean BACs were significantly lower at the intervention parties than the baseline parties, and the percentage of partygoers with a BAC below .08 was significantly higher at the intervention parties than at the baseline parties. |
| |
| Community-Based Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Consumption by College Students |
| STEVEN W. CLARKE (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Eric Raymond (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Kendra Brooks (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Lauren Savage (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: The current study investigated the use of an incentive/reward intervention in an attempt to reduce the intoxication levels of pedestrians in the downtown area of a large college town. An A-A-B-A design was used to evaluate the program. During baseline and intervention phases, three research teams collected Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels from pedestrians from 12:00 midnight until 2:30am. Between 90 and 150 BACs were assessed during each phase of the project. During baseline, potential participants were offered the chance to win $250 as an incentive for participating, and non-drinkers were encouraged to participate. During the intervention, research assistants handed out BAC nomograms, a tip sheet containing ways to moderate drinking, and information concerning the incentive. The incentive was based on the person’s level of intoxication. The lower the BAC the more money they were eligible to win. Results indicate a relatively small decrease in BACs as a result of the intervention. In addition, women were more likely to be affected by the intervention than men. Our results indicate that incentive/reward interventions show some promise as a tool to reduce alcohol consumption in a large-scale setting, but these types of interventions may need to be both long-term and intense. |
| |
| Does the Use of Designated Drivers Influence the Intoxication of Vehicle Passengers? |
| MATTHEW HARGROVE (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Amanda Counts (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Patrice Turner (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), James S. Clifford (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), William Rush (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: One of the most promising approaches to reducing driving under the influence (DUI) is the use of a designated driver (DD). However, critics speculate that individuals using a DD have implicit permission to consume greater amounts of alcohol. The current study investigated these claims by comparing the actual intoxication levels of individuals who had a DD versus those that did not. University students’ (N=495) blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels were analyzed using hand-held breathalyzers. Pairs of trained research assistants randomly approached groups of individuals exiting bars from 11:00pm - 2:00am, and asked if they would participate in a study of student drinking patterns. Experimenters administered interview questions and breath tests, and confidentially informed the participants of their BAC. A 2 Passenger Type X 2 Gender ANOVA was performed to investigate whether or not students were more intoxicated if they had a DD. Neither main effects nor an interaction were found, all p’s > .10. The mean BAC for those with a DD was .099 (n=168), whereas those with no DD were at .098 (n=45). Given the finding that individuals were just as intoxicated whether they had a DD or not, future prevention efforts should encourage the use of DDs. |
| |
| Assessing Environmental Factors Affecting College Students’ Alcohol Consumption at Fraternity Parties |
| SARA E. VALENTINO (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Kent E. Glindemann (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Douglas Wiegand (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Jennifer Doyle (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Wes R. Keene (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: This study investigated the relation between specific, observable environment-behavior relationships at 8 fraternity parties. The goal of the project was to determine what aspects of the drinking environment have a significant impact on alcohol consumption and intoxication levels of individuals attending fraternity parties. A behavioral observation system was developed and implemented to quantify various environmental variables (e.g., availability of food, non-alcoholic beverages, and alcohol; presence of drinking games; amount of high-risk drinking). Behavioral observations were taken from 10:00 pm – 1:00 am. The reliability (i.e., interobserver agreement) for the behavioral observations was above .90 for each behavior/environmental characteristic observed. BACs were assessed between 12:00 midnight and 1:00 am. This epidemiological analysis identified a number of variables related to intoxication level and negative outcomes, including: availability of alcohol (i.e., BYOB vs. kegged beer), amount of food and/or non-alcoholic beverages available, and the presence of drinking games and other high-risk drinking behaviors. This epidemiological analysis will be useful for identifying tactics that can be used to strengthen risk-management at fraternity events by increasing compliance with current policies and identifying promising new strategies. |
|
| |