Overview

The ten AMOD college sites were identified from the first national Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study. Colleges with high binge drinking rates and a commitment to implementing environmental interventions were invited to submit a proposal to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) for consideration as intervention sites. Six sites were funded as the first cohort of the AMOD program in 1996 and four additional sites were selected to begin work in 1997.

Colleges that participated were required to develop a college-community coalition of stakeholders and encouraged to use this forum to assess local issues and develop comprehensive interventions that addressed the features of the environment, such as social and cultural beliefs and behaviors about alcohol, marketing and advertising of alcohol, alcohol availability, access to alcohol, college, local and state policies and practices regarding alcohol, that influence the use and misuse of alcohol abuse. Campus and community groups interested in the prevention of alcohol-related problems were encouraged to work together to create positive changes. The specifics of the approach that a school took were not predetermined as long as environmental strategies involving college and community were included.

Evaluation Goals

1. Provide feedback to AMOD sites and coalition members
2. Test whether a comprehensive approach to prevention works
3. Identify elements of model programs

Evaluation Methods
We use in-depth case study methods to understand each site's program efforts and impacts over time, and quasi-experimental statistical methods to compare changes in consumption and harms at AMOD sites to those at nationally matched comparison schools. Methods include:

1. Behavioral surveillance of students' drinking-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors over time using the Harvard College Alcohol Study (CAS) survey
2. Study of the experiences of coalition members at each site
3. Observational study of the alcohol environment at each AMOD site, including patterns of alcohol availability, accessibility, and marketing and promotions over time

Evaluation Location
The AMOD national evaluation is located in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. It is administratively linked with its companion project, the College Alcohol Study. HSPH researchers work with staff evaluators at each AMOD site.

Evaluation Support
The evaluation is conducted under a contract with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.