Screening for high-risk drinking in a college student health center: characterizing students based on quantity, frequency, and harms.
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.


METHODS
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.
Schaus
James F
JF
Health Services, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-3333, USA. jschaus@mail.ucf.edu
Sole
Mary Lou
ML
McCoy
Thomas P
TP
Mullett
Natalie
N
Bolden
Jennifer
J
Sivasithamparam
Janani
J
O'Brien
Mary Claire
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data