- Change in Non-Medical Use of Prescription Stimulant Medication Frequency [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Assesses frequency of non-medical use of prescription stimulant medications.
- Change in Medical Use, Medical Misuse, and Non-Medical Use Questionnaire [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Assesses lifetime and past 6 month medical use, medical misuse, and non-medical use of prescription drugs.
- Change in Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medications, and Substance Use/Misuse Brief screen/assessment tool (TAPS Tool) [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Assesses problematic use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription, and illicit drugs over the past year and 3 months.
- Change in Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) – Stimulants Only [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Measures past 3 month non-medical use of prescription stimulants and associated negative consequences over the past 3 months.
- Change in Prescription Stimulant Use Consequence Questionnaire [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Assesses negative consequences associated with prescription stimulant misuse over the previous 6 months.
- Change in Quantity/Frequency/Peak Alcohol Use Index [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Assesses typical drinking quantity, frequency, and quantity of peak episode of alcohol consumption over the past month.
- Change in Daily Drinking Questionnaire [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Assesses typical alcohol consumption over the course of a typical week.
- Change in Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Measures negative alcohol-related consequences experienced over the past 6 months.
- Change in Marijuana Use Frequency [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Items measure typical frequency of marijuana use and number of days used in the past year, 6 months, and 30 days.
- Change in Rutgers Marijuana Problem Index [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 month follow-up ]
Items measure frequency of experiencing negative consequences while using marijuana or as a result of marijuana use over the previous 6 months.
This project proposes to evaluate the efficacy of Screening and Brief Interventions (SBIs) for reducing college students’ PSM misuse through two different routes of screening and intervention across 9 colleges and universities spanning the United States. The research will consist of studies designed to 1) conduct focus groups to refine feedback materials (Study 1); 2) Conduct screening through the Registrar’s student lists and implement a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based PSM intervention at all sites (Study 2); and 3) Conduct screening and RCT through a university counseling center and healthcare center utilizing in-person and web-based PSM interventions compared to control.
Study 1 consists of conducting up to 5 focus groups of 8-12 people to elicit feedback regarding the Personalized Feedback Tool and make refinements prior to carrying out Study 2.
In Study 2, students from 9 college campuses are screened for past year PSM misuse. Those meeting study criteria are invited to complete a web-based baseline survey and are randomized to either receive the web-based personalized feedback intervention (PFI) or to assessment only control. Participants complete follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months post-baseline to evaluate intervention efficacy. The investigators hypothesize that participants who receive the PFI will reduce PSM misuse assessed at 6 and 12 month follow-ups. The investigators further expect reductions in perceived benefits of PSM and perceived descriptive norms for PSM, and increases in use of alternative behaviors to support academic success, and expect these changes will mediate impacts on PSM use at follow-ups. Secondary effects of the intervention on alcohol and marijuana use are also anticipated, and these reductions are expected to partially mediate PSM outcomes. Finally, PSM motives and demographics as potential moderators of intervention efficacy will also be explored.
Lastly, Study 3 entails conducting screening and a RCT through a university counseling center and healthcare center. Eligible students will be randomized to one of 3 conditions: in-person PFI, web-based PFI, or control. Both of the interventions aim to reduce perceived benefits of PSM, normative perceptions of PSM, and increase alternative behaviors, thereby reducing PSM and other substance use (specifically marijuana and alcohol). Participants complete a follow-up assessment at 6 months post-baseline to evaluate intervention efficacy. The investigators hypothesize: 1) both web- and in-person PFI will be more efficacious than control, 2) the in-person intervention will be more efficacious than web at 6 month follow-up, and 3) reductions in perceived benefits and norms of PSM and increases in alternative behaviors will mediate efficacy of both interventions, as will reductions in alcohol and marijuana use. Demographics and PSM motives will be explored as moderators of overall and differential efficacy.