Arizona Institutions of Higher Education (AZIHE) Network

Statewide Online AOD Survey

Melissa McGee, Ph.D., MPH

University of Arizona

AZIHE Network, Chairperson

Background

Arizona consortium founded in the early 1990s

U.S. DOE Safe & Drug Free Schools Coalition Grant - 1999

AZ affiliate of the AZ/NV/UT region of The Network

AZIHE Network’s ongoing challenge

AZIHE Network 2003-2006 Strategic Plan

State Outcome Activity 4.A. – “Coordinate college AOD surveillance and assessment efforts across the state.”

Mission: “…to provide Network member institutions with broad overall

AOD-related goals based on the environmental management model and

endorsed and promoted by the U.S. DOE and the Higher Education Center

for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention.”

Launching a Statewide IHE AOD Survey

Funding sources - 2003 PCCHA Dr. Joel Grinolds Grant, 2003-04 regional funds from The Network

Goal: To implement a tri-university AOD survey that identifies AOD norms, trends, attitudes, knowledge and efficacy of AOD programming for the majority of Arizona university students.

Objective: To collect 1,500 surveys from each university, for a total of 4,500 statewide

Methods

Survey development

Application for approval from Human Subjects Office

Purchase software, domain and host site

Methods (cont.)

Request random sample of 6,000 student names and email addresses from campus Office of Registration

Solicit survey participants

Clean data and perform frequency analyses

Arizona College/University AOD Survey

DemographicsActual AOD UsePerceived AOD UseConsequences of AOD UseProtective BehaviorsAttitudes related to AOD use and

relevant issues

Survey Results(N = 4,426)

AZ students report lower rates of AOD use than college students nationwide.

About a third of students report experiencing negative consequences; most use some type of protective behavior when drinking.

Most troubling trends are concentrated among our youngest students – freshmen and students under the age of 21.

Data Supporting Environmental Management Initiatives

Support for campus AOD rules and regulations

Support for laws and ordinances regarding drinking and driving

Support for laws and ordinances maintaining quiet, safe neighborhoods

Support for restricting alcohol availability at campus celebration events

Advantages & Disadvantages of Online Surveying

Pros Convenient for survey respondent Convenient for survey administrator Convenient for survey evaluator

Cons Non-use of university issued email

account Survey respondent bias