What is it?
Educational interventions are awareness-enhancing activities based on a comprehensive health promotion approach to addressing alcohol-related issues among students. Attention is not simply focused on prevalence of use and reducing it. Instead, factors that facilitate drinking, common motives, contexts and patterns of use are considered in view of associated risks and harms for both the person who is drinking and those around them. In other words, alcohol use is addressed as an issue within the parameters of overall personal and public health rather than as an isolated phenomenon.
Educational interventions around drinking are, optimally, holistic in nature. That is, they not only emphasize personal and collective well-being of students but
In order for educational interventions to work, event organizers need to find imaginative ways to capture students’ attention. The intent must be to thoughtfully engage students rather than just entertain and expose them to alcohol-related information. Activities that prompt conversation and reflection should emphasize real-life situations, alternative responses to current drinking issues, and both individual and group interests. Art contests should invite student creativity in expressing their perspectives on alcohol-related issues within a framework attentive to such a range of considerations.
Level of research support: Some evidence of effectiveness
Why do it?
Impact on students: Studies show that traditional approaches to alcohol education (using a top-down approach that “teaches” students about alcohol, its effects and the damage excessive use can do to a person’s health, safety and social well-being) do not translate into reduced levels of risky drinking among post-secondary students. In contrast, holistic approaches show more promise in encouraging individuals and groups of individuals to make changes to their substance use patterns. This is especially the case where information to enhance awareness is embedded within motivational and behavioural interventions.
Impact on campus: A comprehensive health approach to alcohol education addresses both individual and group issues, and puts the onus for healthier drinking habits and outcomes on both the students’ environment (including campus conditions and arrangements) and the students themselves. This larger investment encourages buy-in from all stakeholders toward the common goal of health and satisfaction among students as well as faculty members, administrators and staff.
Cost: Varies depending on campaign or activity.
Who is it for?
Who can facilitate it?
How can we implement it?
Develop strategic messaging campaigns
Basic messaging about alcohol (e.g., low-risk drinking guidelines, personal protective behaviours) can reach broad audiences via campus health-related service web pages and printed materials (e.g., brochures/pamphlets, cards, posters, coasters, magnets) variously disseminated on campus (e.g., student service centre reception areas, offices, library information racks, kiosks, bookstore, lounge areas, bulletin boards, washrooms, cafeteria, pub tables). More informal vehicles (such as t-shirts and other items appealing to students) can also be utilized to convey simple themes in a catchy way.
Use student communications products and media
Student handbooks and other aids are strategic places to infuse basic messages about alcohol and responsible use. Campus media (newspaper op/eds, radio talk shows) and live-audience presentations are also key places to expose and explore issues, providing a forum for dialogue over healthy perspectives on alcohol-related matters. This initiative requires careful, honest work to build rapport and a collaborative approach with student leaders, as well as sensitivity to fitting styles of messaging.
Hold interactive alcohol awareness events
The most effective awareness events are held regularly in multiple high-traffic campus settings. They promote a healthy stance on alcohol, have a theme and feature interactive components—counselling opportunities, online assessment tools, games and contests—to foster student engagement.
An awareness event (or series of events) can
Such emphases and means of engagement can usefully be offered within larger campus health fair events too, underscoring drinking as an integral aspect of overall health management.
Host seminars and presentations
Students may learn to better appreciate the impact of moderate and risky drinking through interactive seminars and presentations. For example, safer drinking could be made part of orientation sessions for new students or campus residents.
Organize student research projects
Another way to promote health is to involve students (e.g., students in psychology courses or in a peer support program, nursing students) in alcohol-based research projects and promotional efforts (e.g., preparing and conducting awareness events). In-person collegial collaboration in study and promotion initiatives will enhance personal contact and conversation with students visiting displays/exhibits.
Create new courses and/or infuse alcohol messaging into established curricula
One way to encourage alcohol awareness on campus is to encourage faculties and/or departments (e.g., health sciences, social psychology, counselling) to develop academic courses based on alcohol-related health issues and social concerns, providing opportunity for academic exploration and class discussion of
Another way is to infuse alcohol-related issues into academic learning by building a resource base that pertains to a wide range of areas and points where alcohol production, marketing, regulation, consumption and response to effects and consequences of use figures into a society and culture. Faculty across various disciplines can then be encouraged to draw on such material and incorporate it in relevant ways within their course content to help students explore and appreciate the multiple impact of drinking on communities.
Sources and related material