Substance misuse has significant negative consequences for young adults’ families, communities, and society. Substance misuse is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among youth. Alcohol is the most used substance; it is estimated that roughly 1 out of every 11 adults partake in binge drinking. Binge drinking has been found to have an impact on college students’ social, physical, and academic lives. Excessive alcohol use is a significant social medical cost in the United States. This study aims to identify current peer-reviewed research studies that identified binge drinking interventions among college students to help develop future recommendations.
The inclusion criteria for this study were that the studies gathered had to be published in English, it had to evaluate binge drinking reduction programs among college students or individuals between the ages of 17 and 24, it had to be published between 2017 and 2023, and it must be a randomized control trial. This study collected articles from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) standards. Twelve articles were included in this study, and most of the studies took place in the United States.
Five studies employed behavioral therapy, while only two used M-bridge. M-bridge aims to be an adaptive preventive intervention. Two articles used brief motivational intervention, and another two articles used Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students. The study results showed that overall, 10 of the interventions successfully reduced binge drinking among college students. Effective intervention strategies found were robust behavior change theories, longer follow-up time, and operationalization of multiple outcomes. This systematic review further supports that health innervations are a way to address binge drinking and should be further developed.
Takeaway: Effective intervention strategies found were robust behavior change theories, longer follow-up time, and operationalization of multiple outcomes.