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Decades of research have examined the effectiveness of in-person prevention efforts to address substance misuse among college students. In response to COVID-19, schools have shifted to remote learning environments, making in-person prevention efforts challenging for many campuses. This situation pushes alcohol and other drug prevention professionals to consider what our work looks like in the virtual space. What are the best methods to reach our students while remaining physically distant? How can we implement effective prevention strategies when our students, once located on our campus, are spread across the nation and around the world? Where do we go from here and what do we need to know?
While this new landscape is largely unknown, current prevention practices can offer some guidance. Here are some points for consideration:
While prevention in the virtual space is new to many of us, this unprecedented time offers an opportunity to be curious and innovative. As we move forward, it is important that we continue to apply our expertise and best practices in assessment and evaluation to guide and refine our next steps.
Dr. Laura M. Longo received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University at Albany in 2019. She is a prevention professional in the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, and a staff psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services at the University at Albany. She also provides psychotherapy services to individuals with substance use disorders at an outpatient hospital setting. Dr. Longo is passionate about understanding factors that influence college students’ substance use. Her work focuses on the design, delivery, and evaluation of innovative prevention and intervention services geared toward minimizing substance misuse behaviors. Dr. Longo has provided training in the evidence-based practice of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment through her position on a grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Additionally, she was awarded two R13 travel grants by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as well as an APA Dissertation Award to complete her study on secondhand effects of alcohol use among college students.