Measuring gambling outcomes among college students.

The present research describes the proposal and validation of three gambling outcome measures, the Gambling Quantity and Perceived Norms Scale (GQPN), the Gambling Problem Index (GPI), and the Gambling Readiness to Change Questionnaire (GRTC). The study consisted of 560 undergraduate college students who completed a survey including the newly constructed measures and other measures designed to assess convergent validity. Results confirmed good reliability and convergent validity of all three measures.

Problem drinking and the workplace: an individualized approach to prevention.

The present study evaluated the efficacy of a brief, individualized, alcohol abuse prevention program designed to reduce problem drinking within the workplace environment. One hundred fifty-five randomly selected employees of a medium-sized company in the food and retail services sector participated in a 6-month controlled worksite prevention trial. Female problem drinkers who received the intervention were more likely than those in the no-treatment control group to reduce alcohol-related negative consequences at follow-up.

Alcohol and drug-related negative consequences in college students with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between disordered eating and substance use in a nonclinical sample of college students.

Method: Participants completed the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS), which includes full diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and anorexia nervosa (AN) as outlined in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as well as assessments of both alcohol and drug use and use-related consequences.

Results: Individuals meeting criteria for BN reported more alcohol-related negative consequences despite the fact that they did not drink significantly more alcohol and did not drink more frequently than non-eating-disordered individuals.

Treating adolescents together or individually? Issues in adolescent substance abuse interventions.

This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium, chaired by Peter Monti and cochaired by Tracy O'Leary, that was presented at the 2001 RSA Meeting in Montreal, Quebec. The aim of this symposium was to present data on group- and individual-based interventions for adolescent alcohol and substance abuse, with a discussion of the implications of research findings bearing on developmental considerations when working with adolescents and young adults. Elizabeth J.

College binge drinking: what is it? Who does it?

This article presents research included in the symposium at the 2001 Research Society on Alcoholism meeting in Montreal, Canada. James Lange was the organizer and provided the introduction of this article. Gayle Boyd was the chairperson, and Mary Larimer was the discussant.

Identification, prevention and treatment: a review of individual-focused strategies to reduce problematic alcohol consumption by college students.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review and assess the existing body of literature on individually focused prevention and treatment approaches for college student drinking.

Method: Studies that evaluate the overall efficacy of an approach by measuring behavioral outcomes such as reductions in alcohol use and associated negative consequences were included. All studies discussed utilized at least one outcome measure focused on behavioral change and included a control or comparison condition; however, not all trials were randomized.

Evaluating a brief alcohol intervention with fraternities.

Objective: The current study tested the efficacy of a brief intervention designed to reduce drinking and drinking-related consequences among first-year fraternity members.

Method: Twelve fraternities were randomly assigned to receive either a motivational enhancement intervention with individual and housewide feedback components (n = 6 houses) or a treatment-as-usual control condition (n = 6 houses). Individual feedback was delivered either by peer interviewers or professional research staff.

Family risk factors for alcohol-related consequences and poor adjustment in fraternity and sorority members: exploring the role of parent-child conflict.

Objective: The relationship between perceptions of parent-child conflict and alcohol-related consequences was examined in a sample of first-year fraternity and sorority members.

Method: Members (N = 302) were asked to complete measures of conflict with their mothers and fathers and report on parent problem drinking. Drinking rates, alcohol-related consequences, depression, and global psychological distress were assessed 1 year later (N = 233).

Relapse prevention. An overview of Marlatt's cognitive-behavioral model.

Relapse prevention (RP) is an important component of alcoholism treatment. The RP model proposed by Marlatt and Gordon suggests that both immediate determinants (e.g.

An individual in context: predictors of alcohol use and drinking problems among Greek and residence hall students.

Fraternity, sorority, and residence hall residents were compared on drinking rates and patterns, drinking-related problems, family history of alcohol problems, alcohol outcome expectancies, and high school drinking patterns. Results indicated residence in a fraternity was related to more frequent alcohol consumption and greater negative consequences even after accounting for family history, expectancies, and high school drinking rates. Family history of alcohol problems was only related to negative consequences for men.

Screening and brief intervention for high-risk college student drinkers: results from a 2-year follow-up assessment.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a brief intervention designed to reduce the harmful consequences of heavy drinking among high-risk college students. Students screened for risk while in their senior year of high school (188 women and 160 men) were randomly assigned to receive an individualized motivational brief intervention in their freshman year of college or to a no-treatment control condition. A normative group selected from the entire screening pool provided a natural history comparison.

An experimental test of three methods of alcohol risk reduction with young adults.

This study tested 3 forms of alcohol risk reduction programming for young adults. Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive a 6-week class and discussion group, a 6-unit self-help manual, or a single 1-hr feedback and advice session with professional staff. Results reveal significant reductions in self-reported drinking at the end of the intervention phase and maintenance of drinking changes throughout a 2-year follow-up period.

Biases in the perception of drinking norms among college students.

Individual drinking patterns and the perceived typical drinking patterns of close friends and reference groups were assessed in two different studies with college students. In both studies virtually all students reported that their friends drank more than they did. These effects were found across different levels of individual drinking, within different types of samples, across gender of subjects and with different types of questionnaire assessment.

Applications of relapse prevention with moderation goals.

A brief description of the controversy surrounding moderation goals for individuals with alcohol problems is provided. Although the controversy is as yet unresolved, particularly for severely dependent individuals, evidence for the utility and appropriateness of offering goal choices (including moderation goals) to less dependent problem drinkers is discussed. In addition, secondary prevention of alcohol problems with high-risk drinkers often utilizes moderation goals; these individuals are unlikely to fit the traditional alcoholic pattern, but are at risk for a variety of intoxication-related problems.