370 JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL / MAY 2001 Evaluating a Brief Alcohol Intervention with Fraternities* MARY E. LARIMER, PH.D., † AARON P. TURNER, M.S., BRITT K. ANDERSON, M.S., JONATHAN S. FADER, M.S., JASON R. KILMER, PH.D., REBEKKA S. PALMER, B.S., AND JESSICA M. CRONCE, B.S. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington Received: July 10, 2000. Revision: November 30, 2000. *This research was funded by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant R01 AA10772 awarded to Mary E. Larimer. † Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mary E. Larimer, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Box 356560, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (email: larimer@u.washington. edu). 370 ABSTRACT. Objective: The current study tested the efficacy of a brief intervention designed to reduce drinking and drinking-related conse- quences among first-year fraternity members. Method: Twelve fraterni- ties were randomly assigned to receive either a motivational enhance- ment intervention with individual and housewide feedback components (n = 6 houses) or a treatment-as-usual control condition (n = 6 houses). Individual feedback was delivered either by peer interviewers or pro- fessional research staff. Participants were assessed during their pledge (first) year of house membership and during a follow-up period 1 year later. Results: Of the participants who completed follow-up (N = 120), fraternity members who received the brief intervention reported signifi- cant reductions in alcohol use (total average consumption) and typical peak blood alcohol concentrations when compared with fraternity mem- bers in the control condition. No differences in drinking-related conse- quences were observed. Fraternity members who received their individu- alized feedback from peer interviewers and professional members of the research staff reported similar outcomes. Conclusions: Results provide support for the efficacy of a brief motivational enhancement interven- tion in reducing drinking within this high-risk population. The cost-ef- fective use of peer interviewers appears to be a promising strategy for delivering individualized prevention programming in college popula- tions. (J. Stud. Alcohol 62: 370-380, 2001) E XCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL represents a signifi- cant threat to public health in the United States. Ap- proximately 100,000 deaths and nearly $150 billion in eco- nomic costs are attributable to problem alcohol use in this country annually (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1997). Epidemiological data suggest that more than 13 million Americans meet DSM-IV (American Psy- chiatric Association [APA], 1994) diagnostic criteria for an alcohol use disorder (Grant et al., 1994). The highest rates of problem alcohol use, as well as diagnosable alcohol use disorders, occur among individu- als between the ages of 18 and 29 (Grant et al., 1994), with a substantial percentage occurring between the ages of 18 and 24 (Grant, 1997). Many of these individuals are col- lege students. Research suggests that many college students drink moderately most of the time (Meilman et al., 1997). Nonetheless, there is a substantial literature indicating that college students are at increased risk for episodic heavy drinking and drinking-related problems compared with their noncollege peers (Johnston et al., 1999; Schulenberg and Maggs, 2000; Weschler et al., 1998, 1999). This dispropor- tionate impact of excessive alcohol consumption on younger, otherwise productive individuals in our society is a sub- stantial concern. Within the college population, it is clear from the re- search literature that members of college Greek systems are at considerably increased risk for problem alcohol use. Greek system members, particularly men residing in frater- nities, have been shown on average to drink alcohol more frequently, consume greater amounts per occasion and re- port more alcohol-related negative consequences than non- Greek college students (Alva, 1998; Borsari and Carey, 1999; Meilman et al., 1999; Wechsler et al., 1996). Many of the problems reported are consistent with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse (e.g., fights, arguments, unplanned sexual ac- tivity and poor grades); however, a significant subset of these students reported symptoms typically associated with the diagnosis of alcohol dependence (DSM-IV; APA, 1994), including difficulty stopping or controlling drinking, in- creased tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. This subgroup of fraternity members, unfortunately, has also been found to be less likely to participate in and benefit from available alcohol prevention programs (Dielman, 1990; Klein, 1989; Shore et al., 1991; Wittman, 1989). This may be due to a variety of factors (both individual and environmental) that maintain or promote heavy drinking within Greek organi- zations (Borsari and Carey, 1999; Harrington et al., 1999). Heavier drinking by members of Greek organizations has been linked to several individual difference variables, including prior drinking history (Baer et al., 1995; Larimer et al., 2000) and more positive expectations for alcohol’s effects (Cashin et al., 1998). Research also suggests that,