The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72271

Gloria DiFulvio, MPH, MEd¹, Jill Capitani, MPP¹, and Laurie Davidson, MA². (1) Donahue Institute, University of Massachusetts, 100 Venture Way, Suite 5, Hadley, MA 01035, (413) 587-2408, gdifulvio@donahue.umassp.edu, (2) Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Prevention, 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458

National surveys conducted over the past decade indicate that between 40 and 50 percent of college students engage in heavy episodic use of alcohol. This level of consumption results in various consequences for student drinkers and non-drinkers as well as residents of the communities in which colleges and universities are located. Despite the evidence supporting environmental approaches, campus alcohol prevention efforts are often heavily weighted in favor of individual education strategies that have limited effectiveness when used alone. The Higher Education Center For Alcohol And Other Drug Prevention supports the creation of a prevention infrastructure by facilitating the work of statewide college alcohol prevention initiatives (SWIs). A SWI is a concerted effort by institutes of higher education, state government officials, and community organizations within a state to change aspects of the campus and community environment that contribute to high-risk drinking. SWIs operate to mobilize campus and community coalitions and encourage the implementation and evaluation of environmental strategies to reduce high-risk drinking on campuses. This presentation discusses initial results from a multi-site case study evaluation to understand the impact of statewide initiatives on both the state and local level. Data collection efforts focused on SWIs in advanced stages of development. Results will discuss 1) the factors necessary for developing, sustaining, and advancing a SWI; and 2) the ways in which SWI contribute to change at the campus level. Cross-site comparisons will be included. Results may be used to help facilitate the development of new statewide initiatives or strengthen current statewide efforts.

Learning Objectives:

Learning objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to
• Describe the research methodology used to evaluate the effectiveness of a statewide coalition.
• List the factors necessary to develop, sustain, and advance an effective SWI;
• Discuss the ways in which a SWI impacts a local initiative;
• Summarize the implications of the findings for statewide efforts to reduce college drinking.

Keywords: Alcohol, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.