Web-based alcohol use and cannabis use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment: college students’ experience and perceived norms

Abstract

Objectives

The objectives were to examine students’ experience, perceived student norms, and perceived campus norms regarding web-based SBIRT based on substance use risk level.

Participants

One hundred forty-three students completed an alcohol SBIRT program and survey, and 80 students completed a cannabis SBIRT program and survey.

Methods

Undergraduates were recruited through campus-wide emails and a research management system.

Results

The majority of students found the SBIRT programs to be understandable, comfortable, and useful. Students reporting moderate/high-risk alcohol use were less likely to believe the information in the SBIRT program (X² (1, N = 143) = 16.334, p < .001). Students with moderate/high-risk cannabis use were less likely to indicate that students on campus would be open to taking the web-based SBIRT (X² (1, N = 80) = 7.680, p = .006).

Conclusions

Understanding students’ experience and perceived norms regarding web-based SBIRT can inform efforts to utilize this approach as part of campus prevention efforts.

Keywords:

• alcohol
• cannabis
• college
• perceived norms
• SBIRT

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of USA and received approval from the Sacred Heart University IRB.

Additional information

Funding

Some project activities were funded with a grant from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded to Dr. Jessica Samuolis.