Routine Use of Screening and Brief Intervention for College Students in a University Counseling Center

Abstract

This study provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and ASSIST-linked brief intervention in a college mental health clinic. Data are from a single group, pre-post evaluation study (2006–2009) at a university counseling center. Students deemed to be at risk for substance use problems were offered the ASSIST and the ASSIST-linked brief intervention. Staff therapists administered the ASSIST and intervention as part of routine care; 453 students (ages 18–24) participated in the evaluation and completed baseline and six-month follow-up interviews. Changes in alcohol and marijuana use were examined by McNemar's test of proportions and by paired t-tests for means. Slight reductions in the rates and number of days (in the prior 30 days) of binge drinking and marijuana use were found. Routine screening and brief intervention procedures in a mental health setting may reduce problematic substance use among college students.

Keywords:

• alcohol screening
• ASSIST
• brief intervention
• college
• mental health

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Grant TI 17244). The authors graciously thank the clinicians at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for their willingness to try utilizing the ASSIST with clients and provide constructive feedback for the evaluation. The authors also wish to thank the administrative staff at CAPS for their ongoing support of the project and the anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved this paper.