University of Hawaii at Manoa

Program Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), is funding the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) $142,364 per year for 3 years to use evidence-based practices to provide on-campus identification and brief intervention for students with or at high-risk of substance use disorders.

Campus Description

UHM, located in the urban capital of Honolulu, is the only public research university in the state of Hawaii enrolling approximately 13,300 undergraduate students and 6,000 graduate students. The First Time Freshmen Survey, administered to all entering freshmen in 2004, indicated that 19 percent of respondents consumed 5 or more alcohol drinks in one sitting (binge drinking) in the month prior to the survey. A 2004 version of the National College Health Assessment indicated that 25 percent of respondents reported binge drinking in the 2 weeks prior to the survey.

Program Model

Screening

Medical providers at University Health Services Manoa (UHSM) use a brief screen consisting of three questions covering consumption quantity and frequency. Students with a positive screen are referred for brief intervention.

Students also are referred by 1) Student Housing, for violations of alcohol and drug policies, 2) Judicial Affairs, for violations of the student conduct codes, 3) other campus student service organizations, and 4) faculty and teaching assistants. Students may also self-refer.

Brief Intervention

Brief interventions are conducted by UHSM's Health Promotion Program counselors, using Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students (BASICS), an adaptation of which provides brief screening and intervention for other drugs, especially marijuana.

The BASICS protocol includes the Briefer Drinker Profile, Assessment of Family History of Dependence, Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index, Readiness to Change Questionnaire, and online completion of electronic Check-Up To Go (e-CHUG) and electronic THC Online Knowledge Experience (e-TOKE).

Data also are collected on cultural factors that may influence alcohol/other drug use or effectiveness of intervention.

Referral

Students requiring more intensive or additional service are referred to the campus Counseling and Student Development Center or to community service providers.

Service Features

Students can learn about the BASICS process and complete the e-CHUG and e-TOKE through e-mail and a Web site.

A database for brief intervention sessions allows the project to report back to referral sources and follow up with clients.

Collaborators

  • UHSM Clinical and Health Promotion Services
  • UHM Student Housing
  • UHM Judicial Affairs
  • UHM Counseling and Student Development Center
  • Manoa Alcohol Project (MAP) and MAP Coordinating Committee
  • Athletics Advisors
  • Sexual Assault Task Force

Contact Information

Nancy Stockert, Project Director
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University Health Services
2600 Campus Road, 313D
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-4493
stockert@hawaii.edu