Computer versus in-person intervention for students violating campus alcohol policy

Area of Science:

• Addiction research
• Public health interventions
• Higher education student wellness

Background:

• College students sanctioned for alcohol violations often face interventions to reduce drinking.
• Brief motivational interventions (BMI) and computerized programs are common approaches.
• Understanding gender-specific efficacy and long-term outcomes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) versus a computerized program (Alcohol 101 Plus) for reducing alcohol consumption and related problems in college students.
• To examine gender differences in intervention effectiveness.
• To assess the long-term impact of interventions on drinking behaviors and recidivism.

Main Methods:

• 198 college students sanctioned for alcohol violations were randomly assigned to either a BMI or the Alcohol 101 Plus program.
• Data were collected at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months post-intervention.
• Analyses included comparisons of drinking reductions, prediction of outcomes by readiness to change and hazardous drinking status, and assessment of recidivism.

Main Results:

• Women in the BMI group showed greater drinking reductions than those in the computer program group; men's reductions did not differ by condition.
• Readiness to change and hazardous drinking status predicted drinking reductions at 1 month, irrespective of the intervention received.
• By 1 year, drinking levels returned to baseline (pre-sanction) levels for both groups, with no significant difference in recidivism.

Conclusions:

• While both interventions led to initial reductions, the brief motivational intervention demonstrated a gender-specific advantage for women.
• Self-initiated drinking reductions occurred immediately post-sanction, prior to intervention engagement.
• The BMI, but not the computer program, provided additional drinking reduction benefits beyond the sanction's immediate impact, suggesting its potential for sustained behavioral change.