( As college campuses nationwide grapple ...)Program Helps Reduce Binge Drinking,Health

As college campuses nationwide grapple with the problem of binge drinking, University of Texas at El Paso researchers are reporting success// with a unique intervention program that has significantly reduced the dangerous practice among its students.

The Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students, or BASICS, program assesses students’ drinking habits and identifies those who are binge drinkers or at risk of becoming binge drinkers. Among men, binge drinking is identified as having five or more drinks in one sitting. For women, the measure is four or more drinks.

After learning how to properly monitor their drinking, drink in moderation and avoid situations that can result in overdrinking, the number of students in the BASICS program considered “at-risk” for binge drinking has dropped by two-thirds, according to preliminary study results.

“The impact our program has had has been very encouraging,” said Joe Tomaka, Ph.D., a health promotion professor at UTEP and director of the university’s BASICS program.

“We teach them about blood alcohol levels and help them understand how their weight and gender plays a role in this,” Tomaka said. “We talk about how much alcohol various mixed drinks have so that they are better able to measure how much alcohol they’re truly consuming and how it’s affecting their bodies. Our message is that it’s best not to drink, but if you’re going to do it, do it knowing the facts and drink safely, responsibly.”

An urban research university located at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border, UTEP is one of 15 universities nationwide to receive a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the model program.

Preliminary results show that a majority of participants in the UTEP BASICS program who were once identified as “at-risk” of becoming binge drinkers have reduced their drinking levels.

Researchers screened 130 at-risk s
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Computer Program can assist to detect Heart Attack
2. Self-Management Program Beneficial for Back Pain
3. Self-Management Program Beneficial for Back Pain
4. Disease Management Programs – Effective for Heart Patient
5. Suicide Prevention Program – Having its Intended Effec
6. Cardiac – Rehabilitation Programs Beneficial for Heart Patient
7. New Healthy Weight Program Makes Healthy Eating More Interesting
8. The Potential Of Cadaver Transplantation Programme In India
9. Time for A.R.Rahman to rock the Tuberculosis Awareness Programme
10. Hepatitis B Vaccine To Be Included In National Immunization Programme
11. Programs for development of health in poor countries not effective