Effectiveness of a Web-based alcohol-misuse and harm-prevention course among high- and low-risk students.
OBJECTIVE
In the current study, the authors assessed whether a new online alcohol-misuse prevention course (College Alc) is more effective at reducing alcohol use and related consequences among drinkers and nondrinkers.


METHODS
The authors compared incoming college freshmen who reported any past 30-day alcohol use before the beginning of the semester with those who did not.


METHODS
The authors randomly assigned students who completed a precollege baseline survey to either complete a 3-hour noncredit version of College Alc or serve as members of a control group. The authors conducted a follow-up survey 3 months later.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that among freshmen who were regular drinkers before college, College Alc appeared to reduce the frequency of heavy drinking, drunkenness, and negative alcohol-related consequences. Among freshmen who did not report any past-30-day alcohol use before college, College Alc did not appear to have any beneficial effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that College Alc may be an effective program for students with a history of alcohol use.
Bersamin
Melina
M
Prevention Research Center in Berkeley, CA, USA. mbersamin@prev.org
Paschall
Mallie J
MJ
Fearnow-Kenney
Melodie
M
Wyrick
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities