SBI Tool for CampusesThe Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was developed by the World Health Organization to identify people whose alcohol consumption has become hazardous or harmful. It has been evaluated on many different populations including college students (Walters and Baer, 2006). The AUDIT contains 10 questions scored from 0 to 4 points (maximum score = 40): three questions on the amount and frequency of drinking, three questions regarding alcohol dependence, and four questions on alcohol-related problem behaviors. The AUDIT can be used to identify people who might be having difficulties with their drinking and/or might benefit from a brief intervention or referral. It is also an educational tool to help students learn about their drinking and provides an opportunity to introduce them to strategies to lower their risk of negative consequences from consuming alcohol. The AUDIT is not a diagnostic instrument. No formal diagnosis of alcohol dependency can be concluded from the questionnaire. Walters and Baer (2006) recommend using a score of 6 or more as an indicator of high-risk drinking and 8 or more as an indicator of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption with college students. See Appendix A for a copy of the AUDIT and scoring instructions. Additionally, in this population, anonymous online screening may be a helpful way for students to begin to examine their drinking. Join Together, a project of the Boston University School of Public Health, offers a free online screening tool (www.alcoholscreening.org) which can be customized and incorporated into your institution’s Web site. |