Randomized controlled trial of a Spring Break intervention to reduce high-risk drinking

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• High-risk drinking is prevalent during Spring Break (SB), with limited intervention studies available.
• College students engaging in SB trips with friends are a key demographic for targeted prevention.
• Evaluating event-specific strategies is crucial for effective alcohol harm reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of event-specific prevention strategies for reducing SB drinking among college students.
• To compare in-person vs. web-based delivery modes and the inclusion of peers in interventions.
• To evaluate SB-specific Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) against general BASICS and a control group.

Main Methods:

• 783 undergraduates intending to drink heavily during SB were randomized into 5 intervention groups or a control condition.
• Interventions included in-person or web-based SB BASICS, with or without a friend, and general BASICS.
• Assessments were conducted pre-SB and one week post-SB.

Main Results:

• In-person SB BASICS significantly reduced SB drinking, especially on trip days.
• Web-based SB BASICS and general BASICS interventions did not significantly reduce drinking.
• Changes in descriptive norms mediated the intervention's effect on drinking reduction.

Conclusions:

• In-person, SB-specific interventions are effective for reducing high-risk drinking during Spring Break trips.
• Web-based interventions, those including friends, or general content may be less effective for SB drinking reduction.
• Targeting interventions to the specific event context enhances their impact on college student drinking behaviors.