Alcohol Savvy: Development and Military Modifications

Presentation #2 for Session "Development and Effectiveness of A Web-Based Alcohol Intervention in the Military" Abstract #162331 Moderator: Michael Pemberton (pemberton@rti.org, 504-947-8150)

Alcohol Savvy (AS) is a universal alcohol abuse prevention program initially developed for mainstream working adults. The program developed for PATROL is an adaptation of the AS module from the Pathways to Health: Three Giant Steps program developed by ISA Associates. AS features a fully narrated, multimedia training program incorporating rich video and audio elements as well as interactive components. The program provides the user with the opportunity to assess personal level of alcohol consumption, to watch and listen to video testimonials from peers who discuss their own and others' alcohol use and how it affected their lives, and an interactive module that provides opportunities to learn skills and processes for making changes in alcohol consumption toward moderate drinking. AS was designed to be highly interactive, allowing learners to create their own sequencing of material and to experience (in simulated fashion) the consequences of their choices. For PATROL, AS was adapted for the military, including military specific graphics, images, language, and content. As was true in the original program, PATROL emphasizes the benefits of low/moderate drinking (if the user drinks) over heavy drinking (e.g., more energy, fewer personal problems) and includes the health, social, and military career risks of heavy drinking. This speaker will describe the theoretical and empirical background of AS, will describe the military modifications for PATROL, and will present a brief demonstration of the program.