News releases

Nov. 13, 2000

TO: Editors, news directors
FROM: Jonathan Zarov, University Health Services, (608) 265-9058
RE: MAJOR STUDY VALIDATES UW APPROACH TO DRINKING PREVENTION

The RWJ Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is well-known for its community-oriented approach to curbing the damaging effects of high-risk drinking.

Now, a study reported in the Nov. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (Volume 284, Number 18) shows that communities that undertake comprehensive prevention strategies can effectively reduce many of the negative outcomes of high-risk drinking, including alcohol-related crashes, injuries due to assault, and assaults that require hospitalization. The study also sees lower self-reported alcohol consumption, heavy drinking, and drinking and driving.

The RWJ Project uses the same kinds of tactics to reduce high-risk drinking in the campus community. Project experts can comment on the study, as well as explain how these principles are applied in the UW community. They can also address the effectiveness of other approaches, such as education and awareness campaigns and social norming campaigns.

Two sources can provide more information about the project:

-- Susan Crowley, director of prevention services, University Health Services and RWJ project director, (608) 262-9007, sjcrowley@facstaff.wisc.edu

-- Professor Aaron Brower, UW School of Social Work and RWJ Project co-principal investigator, (608) 263-3838; ambrower@facstaff.wisc.edu.

To get the full JAMA report, call University Communications, (608) 262-3571.