A two-stage social network intervention for reducing alcohol and other drug use in residential colleges: Protocol for a feasibility trial

Background: In many countries, the rate of binge drinking and alcohol-related harms among students living in residential colleges exceeds that observed among young people in the general population. Peer influence plays a key role in driving alcohol and other drug (AOD) use in colleges. This highlights the potential role of peer influence AOD-interventions in college student-networks. This protocol paper outlines the design of a two-stage social network intervention (SNI) for reducing AOD-use in four Australian first-year residential college networks.

Methods: In Stage 1, a peer-led workshop will provide education about AOD-use and harm-minimisation strategies to four first-year cohorts in the first week of semester one (N ~ 500). In Stage 2, a targeted SNI will be delivered to the largest co-educational, first-year cohort (N ~ 160), wherein heavy drinking 'Strategic Players' (influential students) will be identified and offered a brief, telephone-delivered motivational interviewing intervention for AOD-use (QuikFix). Participants will complete online surveys at baseline and 12-, 26-, and 52-weeks follow-up.

Results: Recruitment occurred in February 2021 and is now closed. Results are expected to be submitted for publication in late 2022.

Conclusions: This protocol paper outlines the design of a feasibility trial exploring the impact of applied SNIs for reducing AOD-use and related consequences in residential college student networks. If effective, the two-stage SNI proposed could (i) reduce AOD-use and risk of harm across first-year student networks and (ii) provide an effective brief intervention (QuikFix) to high-risk drinkers who have greatest potential to spread the intervention effects to other risky drinkers in their network.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000494831).