Short-Term Evaluation of a Web-Based College Alcohol Misuse and Harm Prevention Course (College Alc)

This study examined the short-term effects of a web-based alcohol misuse and harm prevention course (College Alc) among incoming freshmen at a California public university. Analysis results indicated that at the end of the fall semester, students randomly assigned to College Alc (n = 173) had a higher level of alcohol-related knowledge and less positive attitude toward alcohol use than students in the control group (n = 197). Students assigned to College Alc also reported a somewhat higher level of intentions to use strategies to minimize alcohol-related harm. College Alc did not have any effects on other targeted psychosocial factors (e.g., alcohol expectancies), alcohol use and heavy drinking, and alcohol-related problems. Observed effect sizes were generally small, suggesting that College Alc may have no effect on students' risk for alcohol misuse and related harm. (Contains 2 tables.)