Attitudes regarding harm-reduction and abstinence intervention strategies for alcohol problems among American Indian/Alaska Native college students

Abstract

Objective: Culture may influence attitudes toward alcohol intervention strategies among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals. This study examined AI/AN college students’ attitudes regarding harm-reduction (HR) and abstinence-only (AO) intervention strategies to overcome problems with alcohol, including perceived social support for using these strategies. Method: Participants were AI/AN college students who consumed alcohol (N = 159) and completed a single in-person data collection session. Separate analyses of covariance were conducted to examine perceived effectiveness and self-efficacy for the intervention strategies and perceived support of friends and family. Results: No difference in perceived effectiveness was found, while self-efficacy was higher for HR than AO for both hazardously and nonhazardously drinking groups. Likewise, participants perceived greater social support for HR than AO strategies, even from friends or family who are abstinent, and no differences were found between hazardous and nonhazardous drinking groups in perceived support for these interventions. Conclusions: AI/AN students who drink perceived no difference in effectiveness between HR and AO strategies and were more confident in their abilities to utilize HR strategies over AO. Regardless of drinking status, participants perceived they would have greater social support for HR compared with AO strategies from friends and family. The findings indicate that HR intervention strategies may be a socially valid intervention option for AI/AN college students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)