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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Duane F. Shell, PhD, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, P. O. Box 880345, Lincoln, NE 68588-0345, Ian M. Newman, Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 232 Teachers College Hall / P.O. Box 880345, Lincoln, NE 68588-0345, 402-472-3844, inewman1@unl.edu, Robert C. Schroeder, Alcohol and Drug Services, University Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, P. O. Box 880618, Lincoln, NE 68588-0618, Linda J. Major, MA, Office of Student Involvement, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, P. O. Box 880453, Lincoln, NE 68588-0453, and Thomas A. Workman, PhD, NU Directions, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, P. O. Box 880435, Lincoln, NE 68588-0435.

A campus-community coalition developed and led a five-year "environmental approach" program to reduce binge drinking. The program changed the environment in which binge drinking occurred and involved input from campus officials and students, law-enforcement, public health, alcohol retailers, and representatives of the city and neighborhoods near the university. Program effectiveness was monitored with the College Alcohol Study (CAS) and an ongoing campus-specific student survey. Coalition involvement and activity and community changes were monitored separately. Binge drinking rates of 62.5% at program inception dropped to 47% after five years. Driving after drinking and secondary harms related to alcohol use like sleep/study interruptions, property damage, insults/assaults were all significantly reduced. Policy, education, law enforcement and community action are discussed in terms of their contribution to program effectiveness.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to
• describe the characteristics of an effective community coalition,
• describe an "environmental approach" to alcohol risk reduction,
• recognize the importance of developing program objectives that are supported by a wide cross-section of the community, and
• explain the evaluation procedures that focus on both the primary and secondary harms related to alcohol consumption.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Alcohol

Related Web page: www.nudirections.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered