Alcohol Use, Abuse & Prevention

Transcription

1 TEXANS STANDING TALL 2010 REPORT CARD ON HIGHER EDUCATION Alcohol Use, Abuse & Prevention Widening Our View of Community and Influence

2 Table of Contents Introduction...Page 4 College Student Alcohol Use...Page 7 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education...Page 14 Leveraging Research for Results...Page 20 Widening the Circle of Prevention...Page 27 About the Cover Texans Standing Tall s 2011 prevention theme, merging our spheres of influence, is illustrated by the artistry on the cover and throughout this Report Card on Higher Education. Each of us is influenced by the social systems around us. The Surgeon General s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking brought this to light as it related to youth behavior around substance abuse issues. It is through this lens we are considering our prevention we all have the ability to create a positive ripple in the prevention pond and Culture widen our influence through all social systems that surround us. Community Family As highlighted by The Surgeon General s Call to Action to Parent Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, students operate within multiple social systems that influence their behavior, and School Child/ Adolescent Peers in turn, are influenced by each individual student s actions. These actions and messages from family members, the local community environment and the broader culture overlap each other and together influence, to varying Policies and Laws degrees, the students perceptions and decision-making around alcohol use. These social systems, or spheres of influence, include the student s friends, sports teams and clubs, religious institutions, work-environment, and even mass media Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 2

3 About the Cover outlets. Our role as community members in preventing alcohol abuse and misuse is to ensure that the various spheres that influence college students actions are built in a manner that facilitates positive behavior and mitigates negative and harmful influences. Each individual s actions can create a positive or negative ripple and only by complementing our prevention efforts within the various social systems will we create a healthy and safe college environment, which is part of our greater community. Our challenge is to enlarge our view or community as well as our ability to influence positive change. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world. DOROTHY DAY Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 3

4 SECTION 1 Introduction About Texans Standing Tall Texans Standing Tall was formed in 1997, as one of 12 statewide coalitions focused on preventing and reducing underage alcohol use funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) and administered by the American Medical Association. Texans Standing Tall (TST) is the only statewide coalition working comprehensively on prevention of underage drinking, tobacco, and other drug use. Our vision is to make alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs irrelevant in the lives of youth and our mission is to create healthier and safer communities. To that end, TST is composed of a broad spectrum of the statewide community that includes state agencies, policy makers, individuals and parents, law enforcement, institutions of higher education, prevention groups, religious groups, advocacy and service groups, among others. We have been privileged to receive grant funding from sources including the Federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Office of the Governor of Texas, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the Federal Department of Education along with fee-for-service training and technical assistance, individual and organizational donors. Working with Institutions of Higher Education From its inception in 1997, TST collaborated with the RWJ funded college program called A Matter of Degree Program (AMOD) that sought to test the effectiveness of campus and Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 4

5 Introduction About Texans Standing Tall community coalitions to implement Tier 2 and 3 environmental (population-based) prevention strategies recommended by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) that impact conditions that foster high-risk drinking. Evaluation of the AMOD projects demonstrated that when colleges and communities focus prevention efforts on key environmental influences it is possible to produce a measurable decline in alcohol consumption. The NIAAA strategies are discussed in detail in the Leveraging Research for Results section of this Report Card. TST coordinated the Texas Sports Coalition, funded by the Texas Office of the Governor , which engaged state agencies, college and university administrators, legislators, law enforcement, and judicial systems, as well as campus directors, students, and community coalition members. This program addressed misperceptions regarding alcohol use among high school seniors, first year college athletes, and college Greek participants. The TST statewide coalition continues to support campus-based prevention initiatives, including the development of this Report Card. Texans Standing Tall s demonstrated long-standing record of effectively moving statewide and local efforts towards systems change and improvement is being accomplished by utilizing evidence-based strategies for successfully reducing underage and binge drinking. We focus on the health and safety of our youth and the communities in which they live and grow to adulthood because our youth and students don t find danger or safety in isolation; they experience both throughout their communities. About this Report Texans Standing Tall (TST) received one of nine initial U.S. Department of Education grants awarded in the nation for Coalitions to Prevent and Reduce Alcohol Abuse at Institutions of Higher Education. The funding has allowed TST to create this Report Card on Higher Education, modeled after TST s annual Report Card on Youth Substance Abuse. Over the past five years, TST Report Cards have served three primary functions: 1) as a prevention resource, 2) increasing decision makers capacity to respond to youth substance abuse, and 3) strengthening TST s credibility as a resource on youth-substance abuse and evidence-based prevention strategies. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 5

6 Introduction About Texans Standing Tall The Report Card on Higher Education: Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Prevention was developed in response to a gap in easily accessible information on Texas college student alcohol use trends and campus prevention efforts. This report analyzes and informs on statewide alcohol trends among college students (including those not yet 21), campus policies and prevention efforts, and evidence-based environmental prevention strategies. This report centers on four areas, 1) a statewide overview of college student alcohol use and related problems, with particular attention given to underage alcohol use, 2) effective evidence-based environmental strategies, 3) implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies on campuses, and 4) the campus implementation of the Clery Act and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. As part of our statewide data collection, TST conducted a statewide survey to determine current alcohol policies and practices being implemented at Texas colleges and universities. The survey focused on the following areas: student use data collection, alcohol policies, enforcement, community collaboration, and evaluation. This information was vital for indentifying the state of prevention of alcohol abuse activities on Texas college and university campuses. We hope this first-ever resource will serve as the foundation for future research and collaboration and as a tool for alcohol prevention planning among TST and colleges, universities, prevention specialists, elected officials, and local communities. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 6

7 SECTION 2 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences National Overview Tools for Gathering Data National college drinking trends and consequences are collected by a variety of agencies and organizations. Much of the data regarding college drinking is identified by government agencies focused on public health such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Centers for Disease Control, as well as in our nation s universities. NIAAA has provided colleges and universities with a number of recommendations that identify evidence-based strategies to reduce alcohol abuse. The widely distributed, A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges, outlined replicable policies and prevention strategies proven to impact underage drinking. In efforts to understand how colleges around the nation are applying these recommendations, the University of Minnesota Division of Epidemiology and Community Health recently released results from their survey on alcohol-related policies on colleges and universities across the country. These findings provide the most comprehensive analysis of how well schools are meeting the recommendations set forth by NIAAA. In regard to prevalence rates and consumption trends, the Core Institute of Southern Illinois University Carbondale conducts one of the largest national alcohol and drug surveys. The Core survey helps individual institutions track alcohol rates on campus, attitudes and perceptions, and the principal environmental factors that are most influential in engaging students in underage drinking. The Core survey offers two essential services for colleges and communities. Firstly, it provides a campus specific alcohol-related data in Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 7

8 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences National Overview order to more effectively confront alcohol-related problems among their students, and secondly, it provides deeper insight into national trends through the Core Institute s aggregated data of all participating schools. Together these two surveys offer valuable analysis of college student alcohol trends and alcohol policies and programs being implemented by institutions of higher education to address alcohol use. The key findings from the Core Institute and the University of Minnesota alcohol surveys can be found in this report card on pages 13 and respectively. Student Alcohol-Use and Consequences Excessive and underage alcohol use among college and university students is a widely acknowledged problem. According to a number of national surveys, 30% to 45% of college and university students engage in heavy episodic drinking, often called binge drinking, at least once in the past two weeks. Typically binge drinking is defined as 5+ drinks in a row for men and 4+ drinks in a row for women. To give context to underage drinking at colleges and universities, freshman students are generally 18 years old, and if they progress a grade per year they will not be 21 years old until sometime during their junior year. Research indicates that heavy drinking is most prominent during the first two-years of college. Not only are most students not the legal drinking age, underage and binge drinking is related to poor academic performance, dropping out, and both unplanned and unwanted sexual activity. The negative consequences of excessive and underage drinking affect students physically, socially, and academically. Underage alcohol use impairs students judgment, which often results in them putting themselves in risky situations. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 25% of college students report negative consequences due to their drinking, including missing class, doing poorly on papers and exams, and receiving lower grades overall. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 8

9 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences National Overview Annual College Student Consequences of Alcohol Abuse Death: 1,825 students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol Assault: 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking Sexual Abuse: 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape Drunk Driving: 3,360,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the influence of alcohol Source: NIAAA, College Drinking: Changing the Culture, CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov In addition to the data cited by the NIAAA, the Core Institute also reports the toll that alcohol is having on college students. According to 2008 Core Institute annual data, which surveyed more than 77,000 college students from 162 institutions of higher education, more than 46% of students reported binge drinking in the previous two weeks. More than 65% of students younger than twenty-one reported alcohol consumption in the previous 30 days. The Core Institute also found that more than 10% of female students had been taken advantage of sexually during the past year when alcohol or other drugs were involved. The consequences of underage and binge drinking among college students are alarming. Underage alcohol use is of particular concern since the part of the brain responsible for decision-making is still developing in younger-aged students. In fact, the brain is not fully developed until the mid-twenties and as a result even college students older than 21 years of age are at greater risk for poor decision-making related to their alcohol use. The consequences of college student and underage drinking are cause for concern and require attention to resolve. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 9

10 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences Texas Overview Tools for Gathering Data Unlike national level data collection and reporting, there is a gap in regular, statewide reporting of college alcohol consumption and alcohol-related issues in the State of Texas. Through various surveys conducted by the institutions of higher education and state agencies, a snapshot of the problem in Texas and the response taken by colleges and universities has been established. Unfortunately, the information gathering has been sporadic and there is no State repository of data or survey results from which to draw. This results in insufficient collection and dissemination of the survey results. To compound the issue, schools that do survey their students often utilize different survey tools that cannot be easily compared nor aggregated into one comprehensive report. Additionally, some schools choose not to survey their students while others choose not to disseminate their findings. The Core Survey, which does offer annual aggregated data for Texas schools, does not include a sample size large enough to provide an actual statewide report on alcohol-related issues on colleges and universities. Texas is home to nearly 200 campuses of institutions of higher education, however the largest sample size reported by Core Institute was 10 schools in Since that time, the number of schools in the sample size has been even smaller. We need more schools to participate in the survey, which is why TST and community coalitions have encouraged campuses to take the Core survey and supported them through funding. TST Statewide College Underage Drinking Prevention Survey In addition to the gap in statewide information on college student alcohol use trends, Texans Standing Tall has identified a lack of knowledge on institutions of higher education s efforts to implement prevention policies and practices. TST therefore took the initiative to create a database, which formerly did not exist, of all Texas institutions of higher education and administer a survey to all campuses in Texas. This included identifying, as best as possible, the point person for prevention efforts and federal alcohol policy compliance on each campus. The informative results from the TST survey, presented in this report, solely focuses on college and university policies toward alcohol and does not collect data on alcohol prevalence and consumption rates. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 10

11 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences Texas Overview Evidenced-based prevention strategies, which include school policies, are the most effective method for combating the consequences of underage alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse. Texans Standing Tall s first-ever comprehensive survey of Texas colleges and universities focused on the following topics: 1) campus policies and compliance with local laws on underage alcohol use, 2) alcohol availability, 3) social norms, 4) alcohol-free social, recreational, extracurricular options and educational opportunities, 5) restriction of marketing and promotion of alcohol beverages both on and off campus, 6) health and student services for alcohol abuse, 7) community collaboration, and 8) evaluation of alcohol-related programs and policies. The data gathered through this survey illustrates the degree of knowledge and implementation of alcohol prevention strategies on Texas college and university campuses. In all, 67 respondents from 56 institutions of higher education participated in the survey, including two- and four-year colleges at both private and public institutions. Evidenced-based prevention strategies, which include school policies, are the most effective method for combating the consequences of underage alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse. Without data about which strategies campuses are implementing, TST has found it difficult to determine to what extent colleges and universities are addressing alcohol-related issues. By bringing this need for information to light, Texas can begin to move in the direction of developing a system that can assist students, parents, college administrators, and community members to track alcohol-related problems and select effective, science-proven solutions to create a healthier and safer environment for college and university students. Texas Student Alcohol Use and Consequences As stated previously, a regular, comprehensive statewide assessment of alcohol prevalence rates, consumption, and associated consequences for the State of Texas does not exist. While some data can be found that provides a general idea of the extent of alcohol use and its consequences on Texas campuses, they are either outdated or lack a large enough sample size to accurately understand the extent of the problem in our state. Despite these limitations, the best information which is available from the Texas DSHS and the Core Institute will be presented on the following pages. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 11

12 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences Texas Overview Department of State Health Services 2005 Texas Survey of Substance Use Among College Students The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) published the latest comprehensive survey on alcohol use and abuse among Texas college students in Unlike the Texas School Survey of Substance Use Among Students: Grades 7-12, which is conducted every two-years, this survey was only carried out in 2005 under Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) funding awarded to DSHS from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and has not been conducted since. The 2005 survey included 4,634 students from 40 randomly selected universities and colleges. Not surprising, alcohol continues be the most commonly used substance among college students with 58% of year olds and 66% of year olds reporting drinking alcohol in the past month. The survey found that 30% of students reported binge drinking on at least two occasions in the past month. Research indicated binge drinking as connected to lower academic performance. PREVALENCE OF BINGE DRINKING % of College Student Who Reported Binge Drinking Colleges and Universities 35% Community Colleges 25% Impact of Binge Drinking on College Students Grades Only 28% of college students who reported binge drinking earned A & B grades. 35% of college students who reported binge drinking earned C s or lower grades Core Survey Executive Summary: Texas Aggregate The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey was developed to measure alcohol and other drug usage, attitudes, and perceptions among college students at two- and four-year institutions. The survey includes several perspectives about drugs and alcohol. It addresses students attitudes, perceptions, and opinions about alcohol and other drugs, as well as the students own use and consequences of use. There are also several items on students demographic and background characteristics as well as their perception of the campus climate and policies. Although the sample size for the 2006 survey was only 10 campuses, Texans Standing Tall chose to present these findings because the sample included more campuses than any year since. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 12

13 College Student Alcohol Use Data Gathering, Reporting, & Consequences Texas Overview Core Survey Student Responses: Key Findings Alcohol use: Consequences: thoughts, sexual assault, injuries during the past year as a result of drinking). Students beliefs and opinions: The table below indicates the percentage of students that reported having experienced any of the following within the last year and the percentage that reported consuming alcohol or other drugs shortly before these incidents. EXPERIENCES OF HARASSMENT OR VIOLENCE Experience Used Alcohol or Drugs Incident 8.0% 32.5% Threats of physical violence 3.5% 54.0% Actual physical violence 2.3% 28.4% Theft involving force or threat of force 4.0% 62.8% Forced sexual touching or fondling 3.0% 78.8% Unwanted sexual intercourse These consequences are not confined only to the drinking individual as they clearly affect non-drinkers as well and the community at large. The term secondhand effects (adopted from tobacco prevention) is now being used to call attention to these negative aspects related to the non-drinker. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 13

14 SECTION 3 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education Institutions of higher education are required by the federal government to comply with The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations. The Clery Act, originally known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, is named after Jeanne Clery, a freshman at Lehigh University who was murdered in the residence hall on campus. Another student that she didn t know entered her dorm room and murdered her on April 5, As a response to the discovery that there had been 38 violent crimes on Lehigh campus prior to her murder, her parents led the campaign to enact the Campus Security Act, which requires campuses in their home state of Pennsylvania to collect and report crime statistics. In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act, which requires all U.S. institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs to disclose three years worth of campus crime statistics and security policies. The law was later named after Jeanne Clery in The Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations is an amendment added in 1989 to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. The law is intended to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by all students and employees on school premises or as part of any of its activities. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 14

15 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education Clery Act The Clery Act is a federal mandate requiring all institutions of higher education that participate in the federal student financial aid program to collect, report, and disseminate information about crime on their campuses and in the surrounding communities. The Act is intended to provide prospective students, their families, community members and college staff with timely and accurate crime data about all private and public campuses. Unfortunately, there is no standard method for collecting, reporting, and disseminating the data. As a consequence there are varying degrees in the quality and availability of the each school s data. At the very least, there are three main categories within the Clery Act that colleges and universities must abide by in order to be in compliance with the Act. Failure to comply may result in fines and suspension from participating in federal financial aid programs. Clery Act Requirements Policy Disclosure Each school must provide current policies and practices regarding: Records Collection and Retention Each school is required to keep some campus records and to request records from law enforcement. Information Dissemination Institutions must publish an Annual Campus Security Report disclosing campus security policies and three years worth of selected crime statistics. They must also make timely warnings to the campus community about crimes that pose an ongoing threat to students and employees, and each institution with a police or security department must have a public crime log. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 15

16 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education Cleary Act Crime Statistics Required by the Clery Act weapons possession injury, was a hate crime Compliance The U.S. Department of Education may annually conduct a review on a school s compliance with the Act. According to the Department of Education, a review may be initiated when a complaint is received, a media event raises certain concerns, the school s independent audit identifies serious non compliance, or through a review selection process that may also coincide with state reviews performed by the FBI s Criminal Justice Information Service (CJIS) Audit Unit. Based on the number of institutions of higher education in the United States, the U.S. Department of Education conducts a relatively small number of annual reviews of schools compliance with the Act. To access review reports, which may include the complaint, school response, Data is gathered from Police Reports and Dean Referrals. Clery Act information is made available to the campus community via our Student Guide and Class Schedule which are available in print and online. David Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs, South Plains College The Clery Act data is gathered from University Police Department (UPD) police reports. I also request information concerning crimes that were not reported to the campus police from campus security authorities that are identified by the Clery Act (Dean of Students, Judicial Affairs, Housing, Athletics, etc.). For crimes that occurred at off campus locations, request stats from local law enforcement. The report is completed and made available on the UPD web site as well as through hard copies that are made available throughout campus. Lt. Melissa Wright, University Police, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 16

17 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations The Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations require an institution of higher education to certify it has developed and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. Schools that fail to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations risk being ineligible for federal funding. Regulations Requirements Each year, colleges and universities are required at minimum to distribute the following in writing to all students and staff: drugs and alcohol on school property or as part of any school activities of illicit drugs and alcohol available to employees or students employees, and a description of those sanctions, for violations of the standards of conduct Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programs Institutions of higher education that are recipients of federal financial assistance are required by the federal government to establish drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs for students and staff. Certification Institutions of higher educations must certify with the Secretary of Education that they have developed and implemented alcohol and illicit drug prevention programs for students and employees on their campus. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 17

18 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations Biennial Review The law requires that all institutions of higher education conduct a biennial review of its programs in order to determine effectiveness and make any needed changes. This is also intended to ensure that the sanctions developed are enforced consistently. A number of court rulings have made clear that, while colleges and universities cannot be expected to control student conduct, they must ensure that their activities, offerings, and programs meet minimum standards of care, and they must take steps to deal with dangerous situations on campus. Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention Among the Texas institutions of higher education that participated in the Texans Standing Tall Underage Drinking Prevention Survey, it was identified that the majority of respondents claim their institution is in compliance, however in respect to some of the central components listed above, some respondents report to either not be in compliance or to not know. Texans Standing Tall is encouraged that most respondents stated that their school is in compliance. It is reasonable to expect that through educational outreach and collaborative efforts each institution will continue to improve the implementation of alcohol prevention policies and practices as well dissemination of this information to their students, staff, and local communities. Our annual notification is created and distributed by our Assistant Dean of Students and Judicial Affairs Officer. She seeks edits and changes from relevant sources each year. The notification is distributed to each student s Islander account. This is the only account recognized by the university and students are mandated to use it for all communications. In the future, we hope to tie it to the class registration system so students will be required to check that they understand the material prior to registration. It is also distributed annually to staff via and given to new employees at new employee orientation. The Biennial Report is done in the fall of even years. It is created by a committee including representatives from University Counseling Center, Judicial Affairs, Housing, Human Resources, Athletics and University Police. All program and assessment data is collected and reviewed by the committee. Recommendations for future actions are created and reported. Policy enforcement and consequences/interventions are discussed as part of this process. Any needed changes are added to the list of recommendations for future actions. - Amanda Drum, Director of University Housing, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 18

19 Federal Mandates for Institutions of Higher Education Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations Expanding the Influence Policies are only as good as their communication and enforcement. There are a number of standard methods of communication, such as, on-line (web sites), literature given to students (handbook), or through orientation presentations to the students and parents. Law enforcement intolerance of alcohol misuse can be communicated during orientation sessions, welcome back addresses, during presentations in residential life settings, and through ongoing awareness building and media efforts. This will provide clear communication of alcohol laws and policies and the associated consequences for violations of those laws and policies on and off campus. Law enforcement officials can also send strong zero tolerance for underage drinking messages by increasing their presence in residential life settings and at student events. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 19

20 SECTION 4 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention For decades, colleges and universities have endeavored to prevent problems of substance abuse and, in particular, alcohol abuse on their campuses. Prevention efforts can be categorized into two broad categories, individual and environmental. When both individual and environmental prevention strategies are implemented in a community a prevention system begins to form. Prevention directed at individuals is based on the assumption that substance abuse arises because of problems or deficiencies within persons. According to this model, deficits in knowledge about the negative consequences of substance use, inadequate resistance skills, poor decision making ability, low academic achievement, and so forth raise the probability of a person s involvement with alcohol. The goal of individually focused prevention is to remediate individual-level risk factors (such as opportunities to take risks) or enhance individual-level protective factors (such as positive peer groups or the presence of a caring adult) in order to reduce the likelihood of substance abuse. Environmental prevention strategies are based on the fact that people s behavior, including their use of substances, is powerfully shaped by their environment. The environment is influenced by many social systems that positively and negatively affect behavior, which include the messages and images delivered by mass media, the beliefs and attitudes of a community and other social groups, and the access and availability of substances. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 20

21 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention Prevention directed at the environment generally relies on public policies and other community-level interventions both to limit access to substances and to alter the culture and contexts within which decisions about substance use are made. Because environmental prevention strategies affect whole populations and create community-wide changes, it can potentially bring about relatively quick, dramatic, and enduring reductions in substance abuse problems. Prevention efforts conducted in communities have incorporated an increasing number of environmental strategies and a body of research has accumulated showing that these strategies can be effective. A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released the A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges in The report, developed by the NIAAA-supported Task Force on College Drinking, provided colleges and universities, researchers, and prevention specialists evidenced-based individual and environmental strategies to prevent and reduce alcohol abuse among college students. The strategies outlined in the report were divided within four tiers, each one representing the level of scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of the strategy. Tier 1 strategies are supported with evidence of effectiveness among college students. Tier 2 strategies are those with evidence of success with general populations that could be applied to college environments. Tier 3 strategies show promise, but require more comprehensive evaluation. Tier 4 strategies are found to be ineffective, especially when used in isolation. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 21

22 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention NIAAA 3-IN-1 FRAMEWORK Level of Operation Individuals, including Student At-Risk and Population Tier Strategies Dependent Drinkers As a Whole Community 1: Effective among college students 2: Effective with general populations 3: Promising 4: Ineffective Combining cognitive-behavioral skills with norms Yes No No clarification & motivational enhancement intervention Offering brief motivational enhancement interventions Yes No No in student health centers and emergency rooms Challenging alcohol expectancies Yes No No Increased enforcement of minimum drinking age laws No Yes Yes Implementation, increased publicity, and enforcement No Yes Yes of other laws to reduce alcohol-impaired driving Restrictions on alcohol retail density No No Yes Increased price and excise taxes on No No Yes alcoholic beverages Responsible beverage service policies in social No Yes Yes & commercial settings Adopting campus-based policies to reduce No Yes No high-risk use (e.g., reinstating Friday classes, eliminating keg parties, establishing alcohol-free activities & dorms) Increasing enforcement at campus-based events No Yes No that promote excessive drinking Increasing publicity about enforcement of underage No Yes Yes Consistently enforcing campus disciplinary actions No Yes No associated with policy violations Conducting marketing campaigns to correct student No Yes No misperceptions about alcohol use on campus Provision of safe rides programs No Yes Yes Regulation of happy hours and sales No Yes Yes Enhancing awareness of personal liability Yes Yes Yes Informing new students and parents about Yes Yes No alcohol policies and penalties interventions when used alone Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 22

23 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention Since the release of the original report in 2002, the NIAAA has continued to monitor research on alcohol use on college and university campuses. In a bulletin release in 2007 that summarized their recent findings, research demonstrated strong support for both the 3-in-1 Framework and the grouping of strategies into four tiers. Additional information on evidence-based strategies can be found from reputable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute of Medicine, and the Office of the Surgeon General. University of Minnesota: Assessment of Comprehensive Alcohol Systems at U.S. Colleges Despite the NIAAA report being widely distributed to colleges and universities across the country, a recent survey conducted by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health from the University of Minnesota found that more than 20% of college administrators were not aware of the strategies six years after the initial report was released. The University of Minnesota survey was a three-year study that assessed alcohol systems at more than 500 four-year colleges in the U.S. The study found that only 58% of college administrators report having reviewed all the recommendations, however most (78%) of the college administrators surveyed are aware of environmental strategies to reduce student drinking. Overall the study came to the conclusion that many colleges offer evidence-based programs for high-risk drinkers, but few have implemented other recommended strategies outlined by the NIAAA to address student drinking. Evidence-based Prevention Strategies on U.S. College and University Campuses The University of Minnesota survey specifically focused the implementation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 strategies throughout 4-year campuses in the United States. The responses from surveyed college administrators identified many schools (23%) have not implemented any Tier 1 or Tier Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 23

24 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention Strategies on U.S. College and University Campuses 2 strategies, 45% have implemented one strategy, and 31% have implemented two or more strategies. Almost every school surveyed (98%) use educational programs to address student alcohol use. The following chart indicates some specific findings of the study. NATIONAL OVERVIEW OF NIAAA STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION Tier 1 Strategies Not Implemented Implemented Intervention programs for high-risk students 34% 66% Tier 2 Strategies Not Implemented Implemented Restrictions on the number of retail outlets 93% 7% or liquor licenses Increase the price of alcohol 98% 2% Mandatory responsible beverage service 85% 15% training policies for servers Compliance checks to monitor alcohol 67% 33% sales to underage patrons Source: Nelson, T.F., Toomey, T.L., Lenk, K.M., Erickson, D.J., and Winters, K.C. (2010) Implementation of NIAAA College Drinking Task Force Recommendations: How Are Colleges Doing 6 Years Later? Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 34, No. 10. Challenges in Implementation Despite the widespread alcohol-related problems on campuses across the United States, and a near consensus that the recommendations proposed by NIAAA are effective, there does not seem to be an answer as to why so many colleges and universities still have not employed the strategies. It appears that some campuses may require additional resources and skills to facilitate their implementation. A Call to Action was widely disseminated in 2002, when it was first published, but since, there has been a change in college presidents and administrators and some may not be fully aware of the recommendations. Additionally, some of the recommendations have been studied further and new insight to their effectiveness is offered. As a result, colleges need to once again be made aware of the recommended strategies and the importance of adopting them on their campus. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 24

25 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention Strategies on Texas College and University Campuses Respondents from the Texans Standing Tall Statewide College Underage Drinking Prevention Survey, indicate that more colleges and universities in Texas are implementing Tier 1 and Tier 2 strategies than was reported in the national survey from the University of Minnesota. Although the two surveys posed their questions slightly differently, which does affect the validity of comparing the surveys results, TST is encouraged that Texas campuses are generally more likely than not to have implemented NIAAA recommended strategies. STATEWIDE OVERVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION Tier 1 Strategies Intervention programs for high-risk students No Yes Don t Know Children of alcoholics 85% 7% 7% Freshman students 38% 56% 6% Athletes 35% 59% 6% Students mandated with disciplinary referral 20% 75% 5% Students, following alcohol use incidents 15% 68% 17% Tier 2 Strategies No Yes Don t Know the number and concentration of alcohol outlets near campus Required training for alcohol servers at 37% 53% 10% campus pubs and on-campus alcohol functions Compliance check operations are used by law 31% 44% 25% enforcement where on-campus alcohol is sold 55% 32% 13% drinking prevention Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 25

26 Leveraging Research for Results Evidence-based Prevention Strategies on Texas College and University Campuses Expanding the Influence The least implemented strategy according to the survey is campus participation with a community Local community members and prevention specialists should pursue collaboration with their local campuses to ensure that support is provided. Although colleges may seem to exist in a silo, isolated from the larger community, the consequences of underage drinking are not confined within the school. Their students are influenced by a myriad of environmental factors from outside the campus, such as the alcohol service and advertising practices of local bars and taverns, the price of alcohol off campus, ability for underage students to access alcohol at off-campus parties, and the extent to which State and local laws and policies are enforced. Thus, collaboration between campus and community officials is necessary to rework the physical, legal, and economic environment beyond the institution. Key areas of collaboration that appear to be most conducive to changing college student behaviors include, but are not limited to: Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 26

27 SECTION 5 Widening the Circle of Prevention The final section of this Report Card focuses on what individuals and communities can do to advance prevention efforts. Each of us has the ability to be a ripple in the pond for prevention. Through participation in Regional Forums and subsequently collaborating to advance evidence-based prevention strategies, engaging a campus in data collection, or Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) efforts to reduce college student alcohol use we encourage you to get involved. College Regional Forums In 2010, with funding provided by a federal Department of Education grant, Texans Standing Tall Statewide Coalition hosted its first series of College Regional Forums in partnership with local community coalitions and colleges throughout the state. Forums were held in three regions with participation from three schools: Lee Community College in Baytown, Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, and Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The purpose of the Forums is to educate participants on local and statewide alcohol abuse among college students and to share evidence-based prevention strategies that can address the problem. Because alcohol is the most abused substance by college students, the College Regional Forum specifically focus on strategies to reduce the prevalence rate of underage alcohol use and the associated consequences that affects the community as a whole. Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 27

28 Widening the Circle of Prevention Widening the Circle of Prevention Regional Forums were designed to increase statewide capacity to identify and implement evidence-based prevention strategies through community-based change. They engage communities in collaboration to leverage skills and resources for prevention. Texans Standing Tall has held Forums throughout Texas in numerous communities since In 2009, TST was awarded a Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Evaluation Enhancement Award the results of which indicated that TST s Regional Forums are effective at achieving their intended purpose. TST gauges the effectiveness of the Forums and identifies participants perceptions of their communities by conducting comprehensive surveys, professionally administered by Research and Educational Services (REdS), including pre and post tests and their Community Assessment Survey. The survey results are tallied by REdS and the findings, which are very instructive, are presented in a Regional Forum Evaluation Report to TST. The chart below identifies some of the findings from the College Regional Forums held in spring PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY CHANGE Yes Somewhat No Increased knowledge of youth alcohol, tobacco, 90.8% 8.0% 1.1% and other drug use at the regional level Increased understanding of the role of 89.6% 9.1% 1.1% environmental strategies Increased understanding of the role of advocacy 88.5% 10.3% 1.1% 50.6 percent of respondents believe that there is a drug or alcohol problem in their neighborhood percent believe their community encourages healthy behavior in contrast to 17 percent who feel that their community does not encourage healthy behavior. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Disagree The Forum increased my 69% 24.1% 5.7% 1.1% understanding of the importance of coalitions Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 28

29 Widening the Circle of Prevention Widening the Circle of Prevention The Forums give participants an opportunity to understand alcohol abuse problems within the context of their communities and to become equipped with the tools and skills necessary to apply effective environmental strategies to their local campuses and surrounding communities. An example of two strategies highlighted at the Forums is controlled party dispersal (a tool motivational intervention (SBI). The SBI strategy has gained recognition for its effectiveness with reducing both alcohol consumption rates and reducing harm associated with risky drinking behavior. This strategy is touched on more in-depth in the following paragraphs. Screening and Brief Intervention Listed as a Tier 1 recommended strategy by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), brief motivational intervention is the process of identifying individuals who are potential risky drinkers, raising their awareness of the consequences associated with their alcohol use, and identifying practical steps they can take to reduce their risk. A risky drinker is defined not as someone who is dependent on alcohol, but rather as an individual who has a pattern of drinking that leads to a variety of problems such as inter-personal conflicts, legal problems, injuries, and other accidents. The primary goal of a brief motivational intervention is to reduce the personal harms and societal costs associated with risky drinking. The interactions, which can last from 15 minutes up to 45 minutes, is not intended to identify alcohol-dependent individuals for referral to treatment, nor is it a just say no or abstinence only program. The intervention is an opportunity for the individual to reflect on the pros and cons of their alcohol use and consider any changes they might want to make to reduce their risk of problems in the future. The techniques used by the interviewer are designed to have the individual examine their typical drinking behavior and think about any necessary changes they may want to make to lower their risk of alcohol-related problems. intervention within the judicial system when students violate school alcohol policies. Students that score positive for medium to high-risk alcohol abuse on their screening test may receive Texans Standing Tall 2010 Report Card on Higher Education Texans Standing Tall Inc. 29