Title

Screening For High-Risk Drinking In A College Student Health Center: Characterizing Students Based On Quantity, Frequency, And Harms.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined characteristics of students who presented to a college health center and screened positive for the 5/4 definition of high-risk drinking (five or more drinks in a row for men, or four or more drinks in a row for women, on at least one occasion in the past 2 weeks) and analyzed the students' data according to their reporting of alcohol-related harms. METHOD: Secondary analysis of data obtained for an intervention study to reduce high-risk drinking in college students was used. Data on alcohol use and alcohol-related harms were obtained from Web-based Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaires and 30-day alcohol recall diaries (Timeline Followback calendar). Students (N = 363; 52% female) were classified as nonheavy, heavy, and heavy and frequent drinkers, based on their self-reported alcohol use. Alcohol-related harms were measured using the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index and eight additional items derived from the Drinker Inventory of Consequences-2L. RESULTS: Students in the nonheavy, heavy, and heavy and frequent groups had mean Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index scores of 10, 14, and 23, respectively. The heavy-and-frequent drinking group comprised 20% of the sample but experienced 31% of the total harms. CONCLUSIONS: The 5/4 screening question accurately identified college students presenting to a college health center who were already experiencing significant alcohol-related harms. The addition of a frequency question (drinking 3 or more days per week) to the 5/4 screening question provided a simple method for identifying those students at highest risk and in greatest need of intervention.

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Publication Title

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. Supplement

Issue

16

Number of Pages

34-44

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.15288/jsads.2009.s16.34

Socpus ID

67649881279 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/67649881279

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