College student strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm

College Student Alcohol Behaviors and Strategies

Not applicable Interventional University of Wyoming · NCT07156305

This trial will test whether adding personalized goal-setting helps college students who drink weekly use protective behavioral strategies more and cut down on risky drinking and harms.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment300 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 25 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Wyoming Academic / other
Locations1 site (Laramie, Wyoming)
Trial IDNCT07156305 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Young adults aged 18–25 who report drinking at least once per week are randomized to a control group, a protective behavioral strategies (PBS)-only group, or a PBS plus personalized goal-setting group. All participants receive brief education about PBS and complete measures of current PBS use, alcohol consumption, alcohol-related negative and positive consequences, and motivation to change. Participants in the PBS-only and PBS+Goals groups choose three PBS to try, and the PBS+Goals group sets personalized implementation goals tied to those strategies. The trial compares changes in PBS use, drinking levels, and consequences across conditions over the follow-up period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are college-aged young adults (18–25) who drink alcohol at least once per week and are not currently receiving treatment for substance use.

Not a fit: People under 18 or over 25, those who do not drink at least weekly, or those currently in treatment for alcohol or substance use are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help college students reduce risky drinking and alcohol-related harms by increasing use of practical, personally chosen strategies.

How similar studies have performed: Previous PBS-focused interventions in college populations have shown modest reductions in drinking and harms, though combining PBS with individualized goal-setting is less commonly tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Must report being between the ages of 18-25
* Must report engaging in alcohol use at least one time per week over the past two weeks, on average

Exclusion Criteria:

* Reports currently receiving or having received treatment for their alcohol or other substance use during the past two months
* Age below 18 or above 25 years
* Does not report having engaged in alcohol use at least one time per week over the past two weeks, on average

Where this trial is running

Laramie, Wyoming

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Alcohol UseProtective behavioral strategyPBSProtective behavioral strategiesAlcohol useAlcohol consequences
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.