College Students' Receptiveness to Intervention Approaches for Alcohol and Cannabis Use

Public Health Statements College students tend to be receptive to informal interventions to address risky alcohol and cannabis use. College students at higher risk for alcohol and/or cannabis dependence are less receptive to intervention options. On average, women express higher receptiveness to alcohol and cannabis interventions than men. Objective: Addressing high-risk alcohol and cannabis use represent major challenges to institutions of higher education. A range of evidence-based treatment approaches are available, but little is known concerning students' receptiveness to such approaches. Prior work identified that students were most open to individual therapy and self-help options for reducing alcohol use, but less open to medication. The current study examines student receptiveness to intervention approaches across a wider range of intervention approaches (e.g., remote/telehealth), and extends to evaluate cannabis intervention receptiveness. Method: Undergraduate students reported on alcohol and cannabis use, motives for and reasons against use, and openness to an array of interventions for reducing alcohol and cannabis use. Results: Informal options (self-help, talking with family/friends), individual therapy, and appointments with a primary care provider (PCP) were endorsed most frequently. Group therapy and medication were less commonly endorsed, though medication was endorsed at a higher prevalence than in prior studies. Women generally expressed higher receptiveness than men. Lower alcohol consumption was associated with increased receptiveness to some approaches. Students at high risk for alcohol and/or cannabis dependence were less receptive to many treatment options. Conclusions: College students were open to a wide variety of approaches for reducing their alcohol and cannabis use. These results can inform selection, implementation, and availability of campus-wide services, especially as low-cost technological-based approaches are expanding. Further attention to existing services (e.g., PCP) for addressing alcohol and cannabis use may be considered, given students' receptiveness to such approaches.