Students and Parents Participate in Alcohol Education Program

Each fall, incoming first-year students at the University of Arkansas face a number of pressing transitional issues, including the decision of whether or not to drink alcohol, and the role that alcohol will play in their college lives. The University of Arkansas is taking steps to help students make better decisions regarding alcohol by asking incoming students to take part in AlcoholEDU, an online prevention and education program.

"We take every part of the University of Arkansas experience very seriously, and we have expanded our comprehensive prevention program to help our students make the safest, healthiest decisions possible," said Alison Leach, assistant director of parent and family programs. "One way we do that is through AlcoholEDU for College, a Web-based alcohol-prevention program being used at more than 500 colleges and universities around the country. The program uses the latest prevention techniques and science-based research to educate students about the impact of alcohol on the mind and body."

Emerging data indicates that an increasing number of students are choosing to refrain from alcohol use and are seeking activities where alcohol is not the central focus. A survey called Monitoring the Future, a long-term study on drug and alcohol use in the United States funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, found drinking among 12th graders has decreased steadily every year from 1998 to 2008; dropping by 13.2 percent. And in the last decade, the abstention rate among high school students has continually increased, from 49 percent in 1999 to 57 percent in 2009.

"More and more students are coming to campus as non-drinkers," said Brandon Busteed, founder and chief executive officer of Outside the Classroom, the creator of AlcoholEDU, a trademarked program. "This is an incredibly positive trend and a real opportunity for us to engage these students and harness the power of the 'responsible majority'."

One student who came to campus as a non-drinker is Bryan, a sophomore history and broadcast journalism major. His first name and those of other students in this article are used to protect privacy of the students. Bryan said, "I saw alcohol being used as a crutch or a way to cope with things, but I don't really need that. I also do not see a benefit to drinking. I came here to be focused on school and that's what I am doing. Alcohol is just not a part of that."

National data gathered from AlcoholEDU in 2009 from first-year students show that they are interested in planning and attending events that do not focus on alcohol. The top-ranked events and activities included bowling, pool tournaments, fitness classes, movie nights, video game competitions, live music, karaoke night, etc. The University of Arkansas has been programming like this for several years, and Friday Night Live is a prime example. Friday Night Live is a program held on several Friday nights each semester from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Arkansas Union with free food, games and entertainment including comedians and bands.

"Friday Night Live is a great alternative to heading to the local bars," said Trisha Blau, program coordinator for student activities. "Students come to the Arkansas Union on Friday nights and have a great time in an alcohol-free environment."

Also noteworthy is the rise in student activism on the campus. During the 2009-10 school year, University of Arkansas students volunteered their time to many projects in the community, from the Make a Difference Day to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. These 4,417 students volunteered 12,409 hours for a total economic impact of service worth $258,728.

"The sense of commitment and purpose is palpable among our students," said Angela Oxford, director of the center for leadership and community engagement, who helps coordinate volunteer opportunities for UA students. "I see constant activity around campus and in northwest Arkansas as students work on service projects and give back to their community."

While these trends are promising, the fact remains that alcohol abuse is still a problem among college students across the nation. The University of Arkansas is taking proactive steps to address this issue by asking all first-year students to complete AlcoholEDU this fall. The program's personalized approach meets students where they are based on their personal drinking choices.

"Drinking in moderation or abstaining should both be equally acceptable options for adults, and we have a responsibility to prepare students for either choice," said Danny Pugh, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students. "The stakes are too high to do otherwise."

This fall semester all incoming first-year students were sent a letter asking them to participate in the AlcoholEDU course. Claire, a drama major from Florida, was just one of the students who took advantage of the course, and found it worthwhile.

"The program is not directed just at students who drink," she said. "I don't drink but I took the course, and it advises you on how to help your friends when they may want to drink and drive, or engage in activities that are inappropriate. It was definitely worthwhile."

"It was an eye opener for me," said Michelle, a student from Dallas. "There are a lot of effects that alcohol has on your body that I did not know."

Jorja, a student from Memphis, said "I learned about how people may put something in your drink and that you may find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings with people you do not know very well. You cannot just go out and drink and be safe."

Chancellor G. David Gearhart sent a letter to the parents of all incoming new students informing them about AlcoholEDU and that the university was encouraging their child to take part in the program. Parents have indicated they appreciate the information and the fact that the university is working to educate students about alcohol use, and help them educate their students as well. Part of the information parents received was a link to a version of AlcoholEDU that is designed to help parents talk with their student about alcohol use in the college environment.

"This is a great idea. I am so thankful the university is taking this kind of action against alcohol," a parent wrote in a recent letter. "I'm very appreciative that you have notified me so I can encourage and insist that my son complete this course. It's nice to be in the loop and know what is going on."

With several published studies and randomized control trials documenting its efficacy, AlcoholEDU has been a critical building block for addressing high-risk drinking on America's college campuses. In an upcoming issue of the Journal of Health Communication, independent researchers present findings in which Villanova University students who completed AlcoholEDU reported a greater reduction in alcohol use in one sitting, were less likely to expect positive outcomes from drinking, were less likely to make poor decisions as a result of alcohol use, and were less accepting of others" alcohol use behaviors compared to students in a control group.

"We hope for the same kind of results at the University of Arkansas," Pugh said.