The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39219

Bridget A. Bradish, ATC, MSEd, Student Health Services, SUNY Potsdam, Sisson Hall, Potsdam, NY 13676 and Laurel A. Sharmer, Phd, MPH, CHES, Department of Community Health, SUNY Potsdam, Maxcy Hall, Potsdam, NY 13676, 315-267-3136, bradisba@potsdam.edu.

This paper presents the results of a college alcohol abuse prevention intervention called "brief feedback intervention" that uses individually tailored messages to compare individual students’ alcohol use patterns with those of their peers. (While alcohol abuse on college campuses is a serious public health problem, students often overestimate the prevalence of heavy drinking among their peers.) This program surveyed undergraduate students at SUNY Potsdam for their alcohol use patterns. Students were then immediately provided with information about the risks associated with their alcohol use in addition to information about the use patterns of their peers. Six weeks later students were surveyed again. The results showed statistically significant reductions in alcohol use among the surveyed students on the post intervention survey.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• describe the process of developing tailored messages for alcohol abuse prevention on college campuses; and
• identify the importance of communicating peer norms regarding alcohol use to college students.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Communication

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.