Efficacy of an online intervention to reduce alcohol-related risks among community college students

Problems associated with alcohol use are well-documented among traditional 4-year college students, but less is known about community college students' alcohol use. The few published articles that have investigated alcohol consumption among community college students suggest that risky alcohol consumption is a concern. Online alcohol-related risk reduction programs may be well-suited to community college campuses, due to reduced cost and labour effort, as well as increased accessibility for students. The aim of the current study was to test the efficacy of an online intervention designed to reduce risks associated with alcohol use among community college students. Three hundred and nineteen community college students were randomised to one of two treatment conditions: reviewing the online alcohol-related risk reduction program or reviewing online educational newsletters. Generalised linear mixed models were conducted, testing for mean differences between conditions over time on each outcome (primary analyses: alcohol and other drug use, protective behaviours and consequences of substance use). Exploratory analyses for moderating effects of covariates and user engagement were also conducted. Twelve months after the intervention, students who reviewed the online intervention reported a reduction in the maximum number of drinks consumed on one occasion within the past week and a greater reduction in total drinks consumed within the past week, as compared to students who received educational e-newsletters. Online alcohol-related risk reduction programs for students beginning community college may offer a practical and effective way to reduce alcohol consumption, and may have the potential to increase the wellbeing of a largely underserved population.