UMass Substance Abuse Success and Sustainability: BASICS at UMass Amherst Sally Linowski, Ph.D., CADAP Director Diane Fedorchak, M.Ed., BASICS Project Director Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention University Health Services November, 2007
Session Goals Provide an overview of the university s comprehensive AOD abuse prevention plan and strategies Share recent data on alcohol and other drug use among UMass Amherst students Increase understanding of students perceptions of the campus & community climate and its influence on student behavior Highlight successes of the BASICS program, an individual intervention for high-risk drinkers 2
College Students Drink More 40 35 Source: Monitoring the Future. O Malley PM, Johnson, LD. Epidemiology of alcohol and other drug use among American college students. 2002 Drinks Per Month 30 College Non-College 25 20 High School Post- High School 3
Growing Awareness 2002 NIAAA Report alerts IHEs to problem 4
A Major Public Health Problem Each year, college drinking causes: 1,700 student deaths 599,000 unintentional injuries 696,000 assaults 79,000 sexual assaults (A Call to Action, NIAAA Report Update, Hingson et al, 2005) 5
Alcohol-Related Behavioral Consequences 2.1 million students drive under the influence 400,000 have unprotected sex 150,000 develop alcohol-related health problems 25% report academic difficulties 31% met criteria for diagnosis of alcohol abuse (Knight et al, 2002) (A Call to Action Report, NIAAA, 2002) 6
Theory Driving AOD Prevention Initiatives Ecological framework for organizing AOD prevention efforts Recent scholarly reviews indicate: Educational approaches have limited effectiveness Success unlikely unless you change the environment 7
Ecological Framework Individual factors (students) Peer factors (students) AND Institutional factors Community factors Public policy Environmental Management 8
Advertising in a College Town 9
Promotion of High-Risk Drinking 10
Five Strategies for Environmental Change Limit alcohol availability Restrict alcohol marketing and promotion Offer alcohol-free social, recreational options Increase enforcement of laws and policies Change the normative environment and correct misperceptions of social norms 11
Harm Reduction 12
AOD Programs and Resources Continuum of Care / Spectrum of Intervention Responses Thresholds for Action My Student Body Peer Health Education Not Ready for Bedtime Players Social Norms Marketing Campaign Universal/Selective Prevention BASICS Smart Choices Program Campus and Community Coalition to Reduce High-Risk Drinking Secondary Intervention Fresh & Sober Tertiary Prevention 13
Innovative Approaches Campus & Community Coalition to Reduce High-Risk Drinking (CCC) Active Subcommittees, 2007-2008 Neighbor Concerns Policy and Enforcement Retail Partners Social Norms Communications New website coming soon www.umass.edu/ccc 14
CCC s Municipal Impact CCC letter to Amherst Select Board instrumental in defeating proposed change to open container bylaw Hadley implements open container and keg registration bylaws Under consideration: nuisance house ordinance Increased cooperation between police, landlords, university Roundtables address key issues: Greek life, policy and law enforcement, municipal strategies 15
As of November 12: MyStudentBody Update 96% of first year students have passed About 300 have registration holds; e-mail follow-up underway Completion checked twice weekly; holds lifted next day 16
MyStudentBody Feedback Participants say: The course is average to excellent: 88% Increased my knowledge of alcohol: 86% Made me pay more attention to my drinking: 64% MSB can answer my questions about drinking: 89% Would recommend MSB to a student with a drinking problem: 77% 17
Substance Use Survey Campus survey by Boston University School of Public Health and Health Sciences, in conjunction with CADAP Assesses alcohol, drug use and related behaviors among college population enables targeting of prevention programs to age group Administered in March, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Will provide 2007 data with some comparisons over time 18
UMass Students Perceptions of Alcohol Use Do you think alcohol is a problem on your campus? 7.2 12.4 39.1 Major Problem Problem Minor Problem Not a Problem 41.4 19
Did You Know? 83% had first drink at 18 or younger 79% of students who drink do so on 9 days or less per month 20
Alcohol Use Among UMass Students Prevalence of Alcohol Use (lifetime and current use) 120% 100% 87% 97% 88% 80% 72% 60% Underage (18-20) Legal Age (21-24) 40% 20% 0% Lifetime use Past 30-day use (current drinkers) 21
Heavy Episodic Drinking Rate, 1997-2007 Heavy Episodic Drinking Rate 100.0 Percent 80.0 60.0 40.0 63.0 43 66.0 44.5 55.0 44 76.7 41 58.6 56.8 40 40 20.0 0.0 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year UMass Rate National Rate 22
Underage Drinking Rates Heavy Episodic Drinking Rate (Underage Students) 100 90 80 Percent 70 60 50 40 64.2 57.6 55.3 UMass Amherst 30 20 10 0 2005 2006 2007 Year 23
Frequent Heavy Episodic Drinking, 1997-2007 Frequent Heavy Episodic Drinking Rate Percent 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 41.9 39.6 40 36.4 32.9 24.7 21 23 23 23 23 23 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year UMass Rate National Rate 24
Other Drug Use UMass Amherst Students Drug Use 1997-2007 60 40 20 Marijuana Tobacco Cocaine 0 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 25
Places Current Drinkers Go to Drink Off-Campus Private Parties 66% On-Campus Residence Halls 45% Fraternity/Sorority Parties 31% On-Campus Athletic Events Campus Pub On-Campus Concert or Dance 10% 8% 19% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 26
Purchases and Carding (past 30 days) Local Bar and Liquor Store Purchases 100 90 80 70 Percent 60 50 40 Underage Legal Age 30 20 10 0 Went to local bar with intent to purchase Carded at local bar Went to liquor store with intent to purchase Carded at local liquor store 27
Alcohol-Related Consequences Consequences 50 Percent 45 40 35 30 25 20 41.1 40.2 40.8 36.1 38.5 33.5 26.4 29.1 25.6 2005 2006 2007 15 10 5 0 Did something later regretted Had a blackout Had argument with friend 3.6 3.5 4.3 Got into trouble with police Sept. 2006 to March 2007 28
Driving Behaviors Consequences 50 45 40 Percent 35 30 25 20 27.4 27.4 22.2 27.8 31 25.9 2005 2006 2007 15 10 5 0 7.3 10.4 Drove after drinking Drove after drinking 5+ Rode with someone who was drinking 6.5 Past 30 days 29
Academic Consequences Academic Consequences 50 45 40 Percent 35 30 25 20 31 30 23.6 22.8 22.7 19.1 2005 2006 2007 15 10 5 0 Missed a class Fell behind in school 30
Secondhand Effects of Drinking Consequences from Someone Else's Drinking 70 60 61.7 57.7 59.5 63.2 52.6 53.6 50 Percent 40 30 31.6 30.2 32.8 35.5 32 39.8 2005 2006 2007 20 10 0 "Babysit" a drunken student Interrupted study or sleep Had a serious argument or quarrel Was insulted or humiliated Sept. 2006 to March 2007 31
Increased Policy Awareness Among Students Percent who have read and know the campus alcohol policy Read the alcohol policy 66.7 Prohibits serving alcohol to minors 92.5 Prohibits on-campus central source of alcohol 77.2 Prohibits serving alcohol in a room with underage people 76.5 Prohibits drinking games 64.8 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 32
Are You Ready For This? UMass students WANT you to enforce policy! Most want more, not less, enforcement! Ok, so you don t believe us... 33
Opinions about Campus Alcohol Policies 100 90 Percent 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 65.9 24.5 27.5 61.6 Perceived Actual 10 0 Too Strict About Right 34
Support for Stricter Sanctions and Penalties Perceived and Actual Support for Stricter Sanctions/Penalties 90 80 80.6 70 Percent 60 50 40 54 39.1 50.5 Perceived Actual 30 20 19.2 12.7 10 0 Repeat violators of the alcohol policy Alcohol-related violence Fake IDs 35
Good News 41% decrease in frequent HED rate since 2003; 25% decrease since 2005 Continued student support for stricter sanctions and increased policy enforcement 66% agree police should break up out-ofcontrol parties 36
Good News Increased perceptions of enforcement of local laws and campus policy 96% report seeing the social norms message Required MyStudentBody course successful 37
About BASICS Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students Evidence-based; helps students explore their alcohol and drug use in a non-judgmental environment 1 st, 2 nd offenders of campus AOD policies mandated to attend Students seen medically for alcohol-related incident may be referred Students may self-refer 38
BASICS: What to expect Two 50-minute sessions conducted one-on-one with the student and a prevention specialist Session I: Meet prevention specialist, review reasons for attending, discuss AOD history, complete online questionnaire Session II: Receive personalized feedback, discuss ways to reduce risks from drinking and alcohol-related consequences Diane Fedorchak Marisa Hebble Michelle Letendre Danny Wertheimer 39
BASICS Students vs. Other UMass Students More drinks on average when they party: 8 vs. 6 Larger percentage had five or more drinks at least once in the past two weeks 82% vs. 57% Larger percentage drink this way 3 or more times a week 55% vs. 25% Larger percentage have smoked marijuana 44% vs. 33% 40
Significant Changes 6 months post-intervention, decreases in: Total number of drinks in typical week, peak week and weekend Mean number of drinks when partying Peak number of drinks per occasion Typical and peak Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) 41
Typical Blood Alcohol Level BASICS vs. comparison group males over time Typical BAL (Men) BAL 0.14 0.12 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 0.117 0.087 Baseline 0.119 0.092 Follow-up Decrease over 6-month period was significant for BASICS males only CG males show significant increase Time CG males BASICS males 42
Typical Blood Alcohol Level BASICS vs. comparison group females over time Typical BAL for Women 0.14 BAL 0.12 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.118 0.104 0.094 0.069 Decrease over 6-month period was significant for BASICS and CG females 0.02 0 Baseline Follow-up Time CG females BASICS females 43
Peak Blood Alcohol Level BASICS vs. comparison group males over time Peak BAL (Men) Drinks 0.22 0.2 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 0.176 0.155 Baseline 0.195 0.141 Follow-up Decrease over 6-month period was significant for BASICS males only CG males show significant increase Time CG males BASICS males 44
Peak Blood Alcohol Level BASICS vs. comparison group females over time Peak BAL for Women B AL 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0.187 0.171 0.146 0.115 Decrease over 6-month period was significant for BASICS and CG females 0 Baseline Follow-up Time CG females BASICS females 45
Frequent HED rate BASICS vs. comparison group males over time Percent reporting frequent heavy episodic drinking in the past two weeks (Men) 100.0 Percent 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 60.8 49.0 50.5 48.9 Decrease over 6-month period was significant for BASICS males only 0.0 Baseline Follow-up Time CG males (N=287) BASICS males (N=331) 46
Frequent HED rate BASICS vs. comparison group females over time Percent reporting frequent heavy episodic drinking in past two weeks (Women) 100.0 Percent 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 47.2 45.3 50.3 37.7 Decrease over 6-month period was significant for BASICS females only 0.0 Baseline follow-up Time CG females (N=194) BASICS females (N=231) 47
Participant Feedback Agree % Disagree % I think about the discussion or content from the interview I have changed my drinking behavior since attending BASICS I think BASICS is an effective way to address alcohol-related issues My interaction with the prevention specialist was open and comfortable I recommend that UMass continue the BASICS program 65 29 53 87 58 17 45 18 6 16 48
6 Reasons We Like BASICS at UMass Cost-effective Evidence of reduction in dangerous drinking Individualized intervention based on personal risk factors, behaviors Improved retention, academic success Decreased recidivism rate Good public relations 49
Social Norms Campaign 2006-2007 50
Social Norms Campaign 2007-2008 51
For Landlords, Tenants and Commuter Services 52
For Busses, Stadiums, Apartment Complexes 53
Local Alcohol Bylaws 54
Resources The Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention 577-5181 www.umass.edu/cadap BASICS 577-5071 Health Education 577-5181 Fresh & Sober 577-5188 AHEP 545-4588 Mental Health Services 545-2337 www.mystudentbody.com 55
Thank you!! 56