Comprehensive Bystander Intervention Program
Stony Brook University
Center for Prevention and Outreach
NASPA January 2010
New York State College Health Association
2010 Annual Meeting
Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel
October 21, 2010
Ellen Driscoll LMSW, CASAC
Comprehensive Bystander
Wellness/Education program
designed to prevent student death
from TOXIC drinking
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The GOAL of the RED WATCH BAND is to
ensure that all students are provided with
accurate information about the dangers of alcohol
use and know when, where and how to get help
because every second counts.
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The MISSION of the RED WATCH BAND is to
provide students with the knowledge, awareness,
and skills to prevent toxic drinking deaths and
to promote a student culture of kindness,
responsibility, compassion, and mutual respect.
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Community Response to a Student Death

Wellness/Educational Initiative

Peer-based Intervention Program
• Secondary Prevention Component

Bystander Intervention Program
• Alcohol Poisoning Death Prevention
Knowledge
& Skills
Building
RED WATCH
BAND
Challenging
Myths
Bystander
Intervention
Changing Drinking Culture
Knowledge
Self
Awareness
CPR Equates
Alcohol Crisis
to MEDICAL
EMERGENCY
Bystander
Intervention
Training
Role Plays
Death
Prevention

Decreasing Reluctance of Peers to Intervene (call 911)
◦ Don’t believe the situation is life threatening
◦ Don’t want to get friend/victim in trouble
◦ Don’t want to get themselves in trouble
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Changing Drinking Culture
◦ Tends to take form of binge/toxic drinking
◦ Binge drinkers are drinking more when they drink
Don’t want to get the victim in trouble
4.21
Don’t want to get themselves into
trouble
4.21
Don’t want to get others involved e.g.
EMS or University Officials
4.05
They don’t believe the situation is life
threatening
4.23
3.95
4.00
4.05
4.10
4.15
4.20
4.25
1 - Least Agreement ... 5 - Most Agreement
Reasons for Attending RWB Training, n=40
National impact of college-age alcohol use:
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1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related
unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.
599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under
the influence of alcohol.
97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual
assault or date rape. (Hingson et al., 2009)
Binge drinkers are more likely than non-binge drinkers to:

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Damage property
Be in trouble with campus police
Be hurt or injured
Drive a car after drinking
(Harvard School of Health College Alcohol Study, 2000)

How do your college students drink?
◦ Where?
◦ What?
◦ How Much?

Definition of BINGE drinking
◦ 4+ drinks for women in approximately two hours
◦ 5+ drinks for men in approximately two hours
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Toxic Drinking

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STEP ONE: Student Engagement
◦ Student Leaders/Peer Educators
STEP TWO: Collaboration of Key Stakeholders (on and off
campus)
◦ Administration, Dept. chairs, Athletics
STEP THREE: Design a Marketing strategy
◦ Communications Department for technical assistance
STEP FOUR: Training Program
◦ CPR Training – American Heart Association
◦ Alcohol Emergency Education & Role Play
STEP FIVE: Recognition of New Red Watch Band Members
◦ Sustainability
◦ Recognition and follow up
I’m interested in knowing how to help my friends
4.48
I thought it would be helpful in my role on
campus
4.35
I’m interested in CPR training
4.20
A friend recommended the training
3.43
I know friends who were involved in toxic
drinking
3.08
I know friends who have problems with AOD
2.97
I know family who have problems with AOD
2.28
An RA (Resident Assistant) recommended it
1.55
I’ve experienced toxic drinking myself
1.21
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
5.00
1 - Least Agreement ... 5 - Most Agreement
Reasons for Attending RWB Training, n=40
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CPR and Role Plays
They NEED to Know
1 - Least Agreement ... 10 - Most Agreement
5.00
4.80
4.60
Post
4.40
Post
Post
4.61
Post
Post
4.50
4.46
4.20
Post
4.62
4.50
4.46
4.00
Pre
4.08
3.80
3.60
3.40
Pre
Pre
3.75
3.61
Pre
3.61
Pre
3.20
3.36
Pre
3.39
3.00
Toxic drinking and
Alcohol OD
Knowledge
ID High Risk
ID Facts and Myths ID Signs of a Life
Environments and about sobering up
Behaviors
a friend
threatening OD
Responding to a
Intervening in a
toxic drinking
toxic drinking
emergency
emergency
n=40, p<0.05
Relevance
Satisfaction
Recommend to peer
80%
Percentage of Participants
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
n=40, p<0.05
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Comprehensive Bystander Intervention Program designed to
prevent death from toxic drinking.
Adheres to best practices in prevention by encompassing
education, peer education and community outreach.
Widely commended by students. Since March 2009, over
2,260 students have been trained nationally.
Described as “missing link” to prevention by university
professionals.
115 colleges and universities have committed to implementing
RWB at their respective institutions. High Schools have also
begun implementing RWB.
EVERY SECOND COUNTS…
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College Drinking: Changing the Culture - www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov
Hazing Prevention - www.hazingprevention.org
Higher Education Center - www.higheredcenter.org
The Gordie Foundation – www.gordie.org
National Institution on Drug Abuse - www.drugabuse.gov
National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse of National Institute of
Health - www.niaaa.nih.gov
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration www.samhsa.gov
NCAA Drug Testing Program - www.ncaa.org/wps/portal
Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org
Adult Children of Alcoholics - www.adultchildren.org
Al-anon - www.al-anon.org
Anti-Hazing - www.stophazing.org
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Website: www.redwatchband.org
Contact Person:
Lara Hunter, LCSW
Red Watch Band Program Coordinator
Center for Prevention and Outreach
Stony Brook University
631-632-6729