Comprehensive and Science-Based? Alcohol Prevention Programs Among a Sample of U.S. Colleges and Universities

Background and Purpose: Universities and colleges have long been faced with the challenge of preventing excessive drinking among college students. The many negative consequences (i.e., drunk driving, violence, sexual assault, death) associated with hazardous drinking can be prevented with a comprehensive approach grounded in science. Despite considerable effort, implementation of evidence-based practices on college campuses is sporadic, with only 50% of colleges implementing any strategies that are based in science. This study examines the extent to which colleges and universities in the U.S. implement comprehensive and evidence-based alcohol prevention programs.

Methods: Administrators at 132 4-year colleges and universities located in 38 states across the U.S were surveyed. The extent to which prevention strategies were grounded in scientific literature was determined by the NIAAA’s College Alcohol Intervention Matrix (CollegeAIM). Each strategy received an effectiveness rating based on the research base. Strategies were ranked on a scale from -1 (not effective) to 3 (higher effectiveness). An overall evidence score was computed for each college (a sum score of all strategies offered). Prevention efforts on campuses were deemed comprehensive if respondents reported a mix of individual and environmental prevention approaches. Ordinary least squares multiple regression was utilized to determine which organizational factors predicted implementation of comprehensiveness and evidence-based programs.

Results: While most campuses (78%) had comprehensive efforts, many dedicated a small amount of funding to alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention efforts. Colleges reported an average spending of only $500 per year for student AOD prevention programs. Smaller undergraduate student populations, larger programming budgets and more full-time employees working on AOD issues were predictive of higher evidence scores. Schools that provided a comprehensive approach were also more likely to have higher evidence scores.

Conclusions and Implications: Fiscal resources for AOD prevention on college campuses have remained relatively flat over the last few decades. There is a wealth of information available to colleges about the implementation of empirically supported programs. Nonetheless, the use of evidence-based practices seems dependent on funding, irrespective of institution’s size. Until colleges and universities have made the prevention of alcohol and drug use an institutional priority, the problems associated with excessive substance use among students will likely continue.