title: Assessing the effectiveness of peer-facilitated interventions addressing high-risk drinking among judicially mandated college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effectiveness of three peer-facilitated brief alcohol interventions-small group motivational interviewing, motivationally enhanced peer theater, and an interactive alcohol-education program-with students engaging in high-risk drinking who were referred for alcohol policy violations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undergraduate students referred for alcohol policy violations (N = 695) at a large northeastern public university were randomized to one of the three conditions. Six-month follow-up data were collected on drinking frequency and quantity, negative consequences, use of protective behaviors, and perceptions of peers' drinking norms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant overall pre-post effects or treatment effects. However, exploratory analyses indicated that decreases in perceived norms and increases in use of protective behavioral strategies were associated with reductions in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems at follow-up (p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of nonsignificant pre-post or main effects is, in part, consistent with recent research indicating that sanctioned college students may immediately reduce drinking in response to citation and that brief interventions may not contribute to additional behavioral change. The presence of statistically significant correlations between alcohol use and related problems with corrections in norms misperceptions and increased use of protective behaviors at the individual level holds promise for both research and practice. The integration of elements addressing social norms and use of protective behaviors within brief cognitive-behavioral intervention protocols delivered by trained peer facilitators warrants further study using randomized clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12206, USA. dcimini@uamail.albany.edu
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cimini
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larimer
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kilmer
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neighbors
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Monserrat
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009042:Motivation; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012925:Social Conformity; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities / Q000592:standards*