Team Fort Collins Joins With University to Address College Effect

Research shows that more than 40 percent of youth are nondrinkers when they begin their college education, but by the time they´ve settled into college life, that number decreases dramatically. Experts blame it on the "college effect," a term used to describe the sharp rise in alcohol use documented among college students after completing their first semester of school. Colorado-based coalition TEAM Fort Collins hopes to change that through a new initiative with Colorado State University (CSU).

According to a survey taken of college students by Outside the Classroom’s AlcoholEdu program, by mid- to late October, the proportion of students abstaining from alcohol dropped by 46 percent, while those drinking at the heavy-episodic rate (5 or more drinks in a sitting) increased by 110 percent. Furthermore, the proportion of problematic drinkers (10 or more drinks in a sitting) doubled. TEAM Fort Collin’s initiative, “Balance: Your Life/Your Future,” is a social norming campaign aimed at reducing high-risk drinking among first-year students at CSU–particularly those in their first six to 12 weeks of school.

“Students often tell us that the most challenging time for them was the first six weeks of school because many come from high schools where they were involved with lots of stuff, so when they come on campus they start looking for things to do to fit in,” explained Scoot Crandall, Executive Director of TEAM Fort Collins, an award-winning CADCA member coalition. “They also come with this notion that when you go to college you have to drink so even if you don’t drink, you drink because that’s what everybody at college does.”

Surveys taken at the school showed that in the spring of 2006, while only 0.3 percent of CSU students reported daily use of alcohol, students had the perception that 44 percent of their peers on campus drank alcohol daily. Crandall said educating first-year students about the actual facts about alcohol use among their peers will shed this misperception and reduce the likelihood that students will begin drinking.

The coalition will work with the school’s Sociology Department and Outreach and Prevention Services to develop and distribute materials highlighting the risks of alcohol abuse and information about actual norms regarding alcohol use on campus. In addition to materials, residence hall staff will be trained on how to address binge drinking and alcohol use among students; and alcohol-free activities will be planned at residence halls to deter new students from attending private parties held by students. A pilot project for the campaign began during summer orientation for new students and their parents, and is highlighted through key events such as “move-in day.”

Crandall said another important component of the program will include convening a parent advisory council comprised of parents of first-year students to help the coalition understand what other issues and challenges their first-year students may be dealing with.

The coalition will also form a campus community coalition to involve more sectors of the community in finding solutions to the college effect; and will work with local liquor stores, restaurants and bars to reduce alcohol-related advertising near the college campus, including advertisements in the college newspaper. “We know that first-year students always grab the college newspaper to see what’s going on. If all they see is 5-for-1 drink specials, then there’s research that suggests that it puts them at higher risk of alcohol use,” Crandall noted.

For more information about TEAM Fort Collins, visit www.teamfortcollins.org.