PREVENTING ALCOHOL-USE PROBLEMS AMONG BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS - A FIELD-TEST OF THE WORKING PEOPLE PROGRAM

A program designed to prevent alcohol misuse among working adults was developed and presented in four sessions to employees of a medium-size d printing company. The Working People program, based on a social-lear ning model, was field-tested with 108 employees in the context of a qu asi-experimental design. Members of the Program Group (n = 38) and two Comparison Groups (n = 26 and 44) were assessed before and after the program on a questionnaire containing measures of alcohol consumption, attitudes and intentions regarding alcohol use, problem consequences of alcohol use, and health beliefs. Program effects were demonstrated on alcohol consumption, motivation to reduce consumption, and problem consequences of drinking. No effects were found on health beliefs or s elf-efficacy to reduce drinking. Although the findings are qualified b y the self-selected nature of the samples, the results suggest that al cohol consumption can be reduced among adults who participate in this type of worksite program.