Assessing the Effectiveness of a Harm Reduction Intervention for Celebratory Drinking

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

This poster presents the results from an on-campus harm reduction e-card intervention sent to students who are turning twenty-one. The goal of the e-card intervention is to reduce risky drinking behaviors and to encourage students to proactively use harm reduction strategies during celebratory events.

The study uses randomization into a treatment group, students who receive the harm reduction e-card, and a control group of students who do not receive the card. A follow-up survey is electronically delivered to student’s University email addresses three days after the student’s birthday. The electronic survey is designed to collect data about student’s celebratory behaviors during their 21st birthdays including alcohol consumption, risky behaviors, preventative planning, and negative consequences from drinking. If the e-card is effective in meeting its intended goal of reducing harmful drinking behaviors, the authors expect lower overall drinking rates, fewer reported risky behaviors, and fewer negative consequences following the 21st birthday celebration for those students who received and viewed the card when compared to the students in the control group.

Authors

• Christine Arazan, Northern Arizona University

• Natalie Cawood, Northern Arizona University

• Mark Willingham, University of Hawaii at Manoa