Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Program in a University Health Service

Alcohol misuse in the United States is a public health concern. Inappropriate alcohol consumption poses an enormous threat to the physical, social, and economic well-being of the American public. Young adults, specifically college students, are at particularly high risk for alcohol misuse. National organizations have endorsed efforts to identify and advise individuals who engage in risky drinking behaviors. Students who visit Seton Hall University Health Services for routine health care are an ideal group to engage in alcohol screening and education. The purpose of this project is to introduce and evaluate an alcohol screening and brief intervention program in a college health center in an effort to raise awareness, provide information, and offer strategies for cutting down on alcohol misuse to students who are at risk for hazardous drinking behaviors. This program implemented the AUDIT-C screening tool via an electronic health record and the Brief Motivational Interview alcohol intervention into routine care at a university health center. The program resulted in increased alcohol screening and intervention rates, as well as self-reported increased knowledge and awareness about alcohol misuse, and self-reported reduction in alcohol use among students who participated. The findings suggest that by incorporating a standard tool and intervention into routine care, more at-risk students will be identified and counseled about hazardous drinking leading to improved health outcomes