Initial Results from a New College Substance Use Prevention Program Targeting Externalizing and Internalizing Traits
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Objective: College students engage in high rates of risky substance use. Standard college prevention strategies focus on providing feedback about current substance use behaviors and harm reduction strategies but do not address the underlying genetically-influenced risk factors impacting these behaviors. We created an online Personalized Feedback Program (PFP) for college students that targets genetically-influenced externalizing and internalizing risk pathways and provides personalized recommendations and campus resources. College students received personalized feedback on four risk domains (Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity, Extraversion, and Neuroticism). Methods: An open trial (n = 300) was conducted at a large public university in spring of 2021 to assess initial responses to the PFP and evaluate intentions related to future substance use and campus resource use. Results: 81% of students in the open trial reported they enjoyed the Personalized Feedback Program. Participants reported intending to use significantly more campus resources after completing the PFP. Among participants that drank, 39% reported they intended to decrease their alcohol consumption and 41% reported they intended to decrease the number of times they get drunk after completing the PFP; these intentions to reduce use after completing the PFP are higher than rates found in previous studies. Conclusion: Preliminary data indicate that the Personalized Feedback Program may be a complementary method to enhance current college substance use prevention programs.
Source: Substance Use & Misuse
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1330519172, Genes, Environments & Interventions: Understanding and Addressing Alcohol Misuse, G1989832118, G2319812337, G2349801161, G2368506193, Development of a Novel Personalized Risk Assessment for College Alcohol Prevention, G2654098305, G2776478175, G2803414460, G3591404146, Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, G3783978369, G3835175464, G4011395860, A Longitudinal Study of Genes, Environment and Alcohol Misuse In College Students, G5214261961, G5254103331, G5346173920, G5960324223, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Cross Species Characterization of Gene Networks in Acute Responses to Ethanol, G7599232271, G7809479793, G7855619483, Genetics, Romantic Relationships, and Alcohol Misuse in Emerging Adulthood, Using the Genetic Architecture of Substance Use Disorders to Advance Gene Identification and Understanding of Pathways of Risk, Rutgers Training in Addiction Research Program, Cross-species investigation of gene networks for ethanol-related behaviors, G908438819
OpenAlex ID: W4387996785