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 (X 2 (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 (X 2 (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.