College drinking prevention

Can college drinking be prevented? How? We review tips on college drinking prevention from the new book, “College Drinking and Drug Use” here.

2
minute read

College drinking is normalized in America

Facts on college binge drinking indicate that college students are among an American demographic of normalized drinkers. In fact, most American college students consume alcohol occasionally. Although this is not necessarily consequential, the tendency for many college students to binge drink can lead to both short and long term harm.  And although college binge drinking statistics indicate overall binge drinking averages less now than in previous decades, college drinking causes individual and social harm. So what are some options in preventing harmful college drinking?

Here, we present some ideas about how to prevent college binge drinking from the book, College Drinking and Drug Use. This book can be used as a desk reference for those who work in public or mental health in university settings. Six (6) chapters specifically address substance abuse prevention and techniques, as well as policy strategies to address college drinking. We highly recommend College Drinking and Drug Use for anyone interested in college addiction issues or for ANY university decision maker looking to change a campus drinking culture. Following, are the Top 5 college drinking prevention facts we gleaned from our reading.

Top 5 college drinking prevention facts

1. Particular individual intervention strategies can reduce alcohol consumption, particularly among heavier-drinking college students or for students whose drinking has lead to one or more negative consequences.

2. The most commonly used alcohol prevention and treatment programs that focus on changing individual drinking behavior include:

  • Education and awareness programs
  • Cognitive behavioral skills programs
  • Motivational or feedback programs
  • Intensive alcohol dependence treatment and medication

3. Successful individual focused alcohol interventions are possible, and have been modeled, but implementation of successful drinking prevention programs can be difficult to implement due to cost, access, or tracking.

4. In addition to addressing personal drinking issues with students, university administrators also need to change campus community norms to impact risky drinking behaviors. This type of community approach is called the public health perspective and includes

  • college administrators
  • college students
  • community leaders
  • city councils
  • campus health professionals
  • deans of students
  • parents

5. College administrators that make alcohol issues publicly known, control alcohol availability in commercial and private settings as well as enforce alcohol controls can be successful at preventing alcohol harms.

College drinking prevention questions

Do you still have questions about college drinking prevention programs or interventions? Or perhaps you’d like to share your opinion about preventing college drinking with us. Please leave your questions or comments below. We try to respond to all remarks with a personal and prompt reply.

About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
I am ready to call
i Who Answers?