Brief screening and intervention for alcohol and drug use in a college student health clinic: feasibility, implementation, and outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the Brief Alcohol Screen and Intervention in College Students (BASICS) in a university primary care setting.


METHODS
Undergraduates (N = 449) participated in BASICS and electronic surveys assessing frequency/quantity of alcohol and drug use, psychosocial and mental health outcomes, and demographic information. Data were collected at baseline and 6-month follow-up between August 2006 and August 2008.


RESULTS
Drinking and drug use decreased between baseline and 6 months. Participants reported an increase in protective factors and in readiness to change alcohol-related behaviors, and a decrease in alcohol-related consequences and in distress symptoms. Heavy episodic drinking at baseline significantly moderated the changes in number of drinks in a typical week and in a typical weekend, and number of drinks on the occasion drank most on a weekend.


CONCLUSIONS
BASICS can be implemented in a primary health care setting and university students may reduce their alcohol and/or drug use.
Institute on Urban Health Research, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. h.amaro@neu.edu
Hortensia
H
Amaro
Elizabeth
E
Reed
Erin
E
Rowe
Jennifer
J
Picci
Philomena
P
Mantella
Guillermo
G
Prado
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009042:Motivation; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult