Development and validation of the Retrospective Alcohol Context Scale.

BACKGROUND: Few validated measures exist to capture the context and consequences of specific drinking events among college students. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to describe the development and validation of the Retrospective Alcohol Context Scale (RACS), a 30-day measure of drinking context among college students. METHODS: A sample of 169 college students completed daily alcohol assessments for 30 days and completed the RACS at follow-up. RESULTS: The RACS captured fewer negative consequences than daily assessments; however, high agreement was observed on context variables. CONCLUSION: Results support the validity of the RACS as a measure of drinking context among college students. The RACS may be most useful when information about drinking needs to be collected under limited time and resources. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Further research is needed to examine the RACS among more diverse, probability samples and over longer time periods.

Alcohol assessment using wireless handheld computers: a pilot study.

The present study sought to test the feasibility of measuring quantity and frequency of self-reported alcohol consumption among college students using the Handheld Assisted Network Diary (HAND) by comparing results to a retrospective Timeline Followback (TLFB). A total of 40 undergraduate college students completed a HAND assessment during the two-week study period and completed a TLFB at follow-up. The HAND recorded similar levels of alcohol consumption compared to the TLFB. There were no significant differences in overall alcohol consumption, drinks per drinking day, or heavy drinking days between the two methods of assessment. Handheld computers may represent a useful tool for assessing daily alcohol use among college students.

Reliability and validity of the alcohol consequences expectations scale.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the reliability and validity of a new measure of alcohol outcome expectations for college students, the Alcohol Consequences Expectations Scale (ACES). METHODS: College students (N=169) completed the ACES and several other measures. RESULTS: Results support the existence of 5 internally consistent subscales. Additionally, the ACES is associated with conceptually similar measures and self-reported drinking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the reliability of the ACES and its subscales and provides preliminary evidence of construct and criterion-related validity. Pending further investigation, this scale may be used to inform the development of alcohol abuse prevention programs on college campuses.

Self-reported consequences of intoxication among college students: implications for harm reduction approaches to high-risk drinking.

Although large scale national surveys provide extensive data about the nature and frequency of alcohol use among American college students, survey research on alcohol does not provide detailed information on the context of college alcohol consumption that may contribute to drinking-related negative consequences. This research sought to gather specific information on the contexts in which alcohol use occurs among college students through a series of focus groups. Participants described specific incidents of heavy drinking, alcohol consumption patterns, drinking locations and environments, co-drinkers, and associated consequences experienced from drinking. Results indicated that participants often experienced negative consequences from alcohol use if they consumed shots of hard liquor or if they participated in drinking games and/or "pre-gamed." In addition, negative consequences were more common during specific events/special occasions. An implication of these findings is the possibility of reducing negative alcohol-related consequences by tailoring health promotion/harm reduction efforts specifically toward excessive drinking of hard liquor and excessive "pre-gaming."

Using wireless handheld computers and tailored text messaging to reduce negative consequences of drinking alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this trial was to investigate the feasibility and short-term outcomes of a tailored intervention, delivered via text messages to wireless handheld computers, to reduce alcohol-related consequences among college students. METHOD: Forty college students were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. In the control group, participants used handheld computers to complete daily surveys about their drinking behavior and related variables. In the treatment group, participants used the handheld computers to complete daily surveys and to receive individually tailored messages on the units. The tailored messages addressed consequences of alcohol use and were tailored to respondents' reported behavior, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies regarding alcohol-related consequences. RESULTS: All treatment group participants reported receiving messages on their handheld computers; most students were sent messages on 12-14 days. Controlling for baseline differences, participants in the treatment group reported drinking significantly fewer drinks per drinking day than participants in the control group during the study period. At follow-up, participants in the treatment group had lower expectancies that they would get in trouble as a result of alcohol consumption than did control group participants. Participants provided both positive and negative feedback about the messages. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering tailored messages via wireless handheld computers. Tailored messages about avoiding negative consequences of alcohol use delivered via handheld computers had small but positive effects on alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors. Future research should replicate these findings with a larger, more diverse sample, during a longer period, and with other audiences.

Mental health among suburban drug court participants.

The issue of co-occurring disorders is of concern to the Criminal Justice field, including drug courts. To assess the potential co-occurrence of substance use- and mental health-related diagnoses, the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire and similar instruments was administered to suburban drug court clients. Based on the screening, one quarter to one half of the 108 participants would be referred for follow-up for a mental health issue; women would be referred at a greater rate than men. There is a need to develop appropriate, brief mental health screening instruments for use in drug court settings so that clients can receive necessary services.