The Internet and Alcoholism
The prevalence of binge drinking is highest amongst 18- to 24-year-olds. In the United States around 1,800 college students die from unintentional alcohol-related injuries each year. Given the growth of the Internet in the last twenty years or so, online intervention programmes can provide added benefits compared to traditional methods of health promotion. They are cost-effective and convenient, have the potential to reach large populations, and can help maintain anonymity. A recent survey carried out in the United States has evaluated a number of Internet-based interventions for effectiveness in combating binge drinking amongst the country’s college population. The study found that an overwhelming majority of the programmes reviewed reported successful results in the overall reduction of the quantity of alcohol consumed and the frequency of drinking. In this way it supports the use of the Internet as an effective tool for the prevention of binge drinking amongst the target population. The investigation also offers several specific points to help maximize the effectivity of online programmes. These involve longer and periodic interventions as opposed to short one-time sessions. The inclusion of aspects aimed at changing perceived norms was also highlighted as a particularly useful practice, as well as attempts to provide personalised feedback.
