Gamified Campaign for Underage Drinking

(2T1L Trial)

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Loyola Marymount University

Disqualifiers: Not first-year student, Age, Instagram use, Consent

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new interactive game called "2 College Truths & 1 Lie" to help first-year college students reduce alcohol consumption. The game aims to correct false beliefs about peer drinking habits, which can influence personal drinking behavior. Participants will be divided into groups: one playing the game on Instagram, another viewing regular social media ads, and a control group only completing surveys. Ideal participants are first-year students who regularly check Instagram and are interested in reducing their drinking. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in innovative research that could positively impact their college experience.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this gamified campaign is safe for first-year college students?

Research has shown that many college students often overestimate their peers' alcohol consumption, which can lead them to drink more themselves. Programs like "2 College Truths and 1 Lie" (2T1L) aim to correct these misconceptions through social media campaigns.

Specific data on the safety of 2T1L is not available because it focuses on behavior rather than being a drug or medical treatment. However, as it involves a social media game, it is unlikely to cause physical harm. The goal of 2T1L is to provide information and change perceptions about drinking, which should be safe for participants.

Overall, as a non-invasive and informational campaign, 2T1L is expected to be well-tolerated. Participants will engage with content on social media, a common and generally safe activity. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the trial for the "Gamified Campaign for Underage Drinking" because it explores innovative ways to address underage drinking through social media. Unlike traditional educational programs that might use in-person sessions or printed materials, this trial uses Instagram to deliver its message, making it more accessible and engaging for young people who frequently use this platform. The campaign includes a gamified element, which could make the information more interactive and memorable, potentially leading to better outcomes in reducing underage drinking. By comparing the effectiveness of a standard social norms marketing campaign and a gamified version, researchers hope to find out if adding game-like elements can enhance the impact of these interventions.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing underage drinking?

Research shows that fun, game-like marketing can help reduce alcohol consumption among college students. In this trial, participants in the Gamified Social Norms Marketing Campaign arm will experience this approach. Studies have found that when students learn the truth about their peers' actual drinking habits, they tend to drink less. For example, games like "2 College Truths and 1 Lie" provide students with a clearer picture of real drinking habits on campus, leading to reduced alcohol consumption. This method effectively engages students, helping them understand and change their behavior. Overall, these game-based approaches appear promising in preventing and reducing alcohol use among first-year college students. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for first-year college students who are interested in participating in a study to prevent and reduce underage drinking. The program aims to correct false beliefs about how much their peers drink.

Inclusion Criteria

Consented to participate in the study

Checks their Instagram 1-3+ times per week

Incoming first-year student with valid LMU email address

Exclusion Criteria

Not an incoming first-year student attending LMU

I don't use Instagram or check it less than once a week.

Did not consent to participate in the study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 month

Online survey

Intervention

Participants receive the gamified or static social norms marketing campaign via Instagram ads

6 weeks

Online engagement

Short-term Follow-up

Participants complete a follow-up survey to assess short-term intervention effects

1 month post-intervention

Online survey

Long-term Follow-up

Participants complete a follow-up survey to assess long-term intervention effects

6 months post-intervention

Online survey

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• 2 College Truths and 1 Lie (2T1L)

Trial Overview The trial tests '2 College Truths & 1 Lie', an interactive game designed as a social norms marketing campaign, against a standard campaign and no intervention. It measures the game's impact on student drinking behavior over the school year.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social Norms Marketing Campaign Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will receive a social norms marketing campaign that is primarily delivered via advertisements on the social media platform Instagram.

Group II: Gamified Social Norms Marketing Campaign Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will receive a gamified social norms marketing campaign that is primarily delivered via advertisements on the social media platform Instagram.

Group III: Assessment-Only Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants do not receive anything besides the surveys.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Loyola Marymount University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

9

Recruited

8,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Internet quiz game intervention significantly reduced underage drinking among adolescents, with a 21% decrease at 1-month follow-up and a 14% decrease at 3-month follow-up compared to conventional health education.

In the intervention group, fewer students reported drinking alcohol, and those who did consumed less, indicating that engaging educational methods can be more effective in changing drinking behaviors among adolescents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Internet Quiz Game Intervention for Adolescent Alcohol Drinking: A Clustered RCT. Ho, FK., Tung, KTS., Wong, RS., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06576011?term=AREA%5BConditionSearch%5D(%22Underage%20Drinking%22)&rank=3

Study Details | NCT06576011 | 2 College Truths and 1 Lie Further, students in the 2T1L game condition will report greater accuracy in their perceptions of campus drinking norms and consume less alcohol following the ...

2. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7881536

Parent Based Interventions to Prevent Student Drinking Combining alcohol and energy drinks: An examination of psychosocial constructs and alcohol outcomes among college students using a longitudinal design.

3. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8787705

turrisi, robert j College student drinking remains an important public health problem and there is growing evidence suggesting that consequences are increasing for older students ...

4. library.samhsa.gov library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep21-03-10-006.pdf

Facts on College Student Drinking COLLEGE DRINKING OVERVIEW. Full-time college students tend to drink more than others in their age group. In. 2019, 53 percent of full-time college students ...

5. euda.europa.eu euda.europa.eu/publications/data-factsheets/espad-2024-key-findings_en

Key findings from the 2024 European School Survey ... - EUDA This edition marks 30 years of monitoring adolescent risky behaviours across Europe and introduces a new focus on mental well-being and prevention activities.

6. niaaa.nih.gov niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/college-drinking

Harmful and Underage College Drinking Over the long term, frequent binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs, and increases the risk of suicide, mental health conditions, and alcohol use ...

7. collegedrinkingprevention.gov collegedrinkingprevention.gov/statistics/consequences

Consequences | College Drinking Prevention Consequences · Deaths: 1,519 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes.

8. commons.lib.jmu.edu commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=edspec201019

High risk drinking concerns across college campuses and a ... This project examines excessive alcohol use in college, focusing on high-risk drinking, prevention, and support programs, and the harmful consequences of ...