Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students
BASICS was designed specifically to help college students make safer and healthier choices regarding alcohol. BASICS uses a harm reduction approach. Within the field of collegiate alcohol/drug prevention/education, BASICS is considered a model program based on sound research efficacy. BASICS is mandated for students who have violated AOD policy and have been sanctioned for a major offense. However, this program is available to all students on a voluntary basis.
Students complete a confidential alcohol/drug questionnaire and then a personalized feedback profile is generated for the student and a Student Wellness Services staff member to review during a scheduled appointment . The appointment lasts up to 90 minutes.
The following bullets provide information regarding BASICS outcomes:
• Helping the student identify high-risk drinking situations for them individually
• Providing accurate information about alcohol (i.e. negative consequences, blood alcohol content, standard drinks, tolerance)
• Identifying personal risk factors (i.e. family history, behavior)
• Challenging of myths and positive alcohol expectancies (i.e. examining beliefs, social functioning, self-monitoring)
• Establishing more appropriate and safer drinking goals (i.e. moderation)
• Managing high-risk drinking situations (i.e. strategies and goals)
• Learning from mistakes
• Increasing self-efficacy
• Attaining lifestyle balance