Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116617

Janet Williams, Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, American Medical Association, 515 N. State Street, 8243, Chicago, IL 60610, 312-464-5073, Janet.Williams@ama-assn.org

High-risk drinking continues to be the major public health problem among college students, including consequences on student learning, memory, possible brain damage, as well as assault, unprotected sex, injuries and death. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Institute of Medicine report on underage drinking, and international experts assessed traditional control efforts and endorse comprehensive strategies that emphasize environmental policy change to reduce high-risk drinking and its consequences. The presentation will review the environmental policy changes of A Matter of Degree, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national initiative to achieve change through campus-community coalitions. There will be a presentation of the characteristics of successful coalitions, outcome measures, and their the implications for improving the health of college students and the local communities.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to
• Understand the levels of effectiveness of evidence-based strategies to reduce high risk drinking and its consequences in college communities.
• Differentiate environmental alcohol control policy from interventions focused on the individual.
• Describe components of successful public policy by campus-community coalitions.
• Relate project results to the prevention paradox

Keywords: Alcohol, College Students

Related Web page: www.alcoholpolicymd.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation