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According to the National College Health Assessment surveys 32 percent of Idaho students either never used alcohol or hadn’t in the 30 days prior to the survey. Another 49.5 percent said they used alcohol less than nine times in the previous 30 days.
The assessment said 18.6 percent used alcohol more than 10 of the previous 30 days.
As part of National Alcohol Screening Day, the University of Idaho Counseling and Testing Center will administer free alcohol screenings April 5 in the Idaho Commons.
Sharon Fritz, a licensed psychologist with the CTC, said alcohol screening is about harm reduction.
“We want (students) to have the information to make the smartest decision,” Fritz said.
She said the CTC’s message focuses on how students can be safe if they choose to drink.
Samantha Schwartz-Oscar, a doctoral intern at the CTC, is coordinating the screening day at UI.
The screening test takes about two minutes to complete, Schwartz-Oscar said, and includes questions about how often and how much students drink.
The test also asks if students are able to stop once they start and if they ever black out, according to Screening for Mental Health, which developed the test.
“A key component is that it’s free and confidential,” Fritz said.
Schwartz-Oscar said CTC staff members will share test results immediately, and offer advice for students who may need help to control their drinking.
Fritz said the CTC administered 719 tests last year at the Commons, Bob’s Place, and various living groups and athletes.
The program aims to expand the number of groups involved in screenings, which Fritz said includes working with professors to screen individual classes.
The CTC holds three mental health screenings a year — one each for depression, eating disorders and alcohol. She said the alcohol screening is the largest because students are more willing to participate.
Schwartz-Oscar said the CTC collects and analyzes data from the screenings. She said screening 700 students provides a good estimate of the school as a whole.
Fritz said there is often a gap in actual use of alcohol and perceived use of alcohol.
“We often think it’s the norm in college to binge drink, and it’s not,” Fritz said.
Fritz said the CTC emphasizes the number of students who drink responsibly rather than the number of students who may need help to encourage healthy behavior.
If the screening indicates a student needs help, Schwartz-Oscar said the CTC has many resources to help with alcohol concerns.
She said the CTC has several counselors trained to help with substance abuse. She also said there is a support group for students.
The CTC will offer screenings from 10:30 to 2:30 April 5 in the Commons with free pizza for those who take the test. They will also be at Bob’s Place from 4:30 to 6:30 April 10.
Kasen Christensen
can be reached at
[email protected]