Current e-CHUG Updates!

The e-CHUG development team continuously gathers recommendations from subscribers and researchers, pilot tests changes and upgrades the e-CHUG program throughout the year. Click here to SEE and HEAR more...

What is the e-CHUG?

The e-CHUG is not a static assessment questionnaire. The e-CHUG is an evidence-based, dynamic, on-line alcohol intervention and personalized feedback tool developed by counselors and psychologists at San Diego State University.

Drawing on Motivational Interviewing (Miller & Rollnick, 2002) and Social Norms feedback theories (Haines & Spear, 1996), the CHUG is designed to motivate individuals to reduce their consumption using personalized information about their own drinking and risk factors. The e-CHUG was designed, and is updated with the most current and reliable research available.

The e-CHUG is currently in use on nearly 400 universities and colleges across 42 states and in Canada and Australia. How are these campuses using the e-CHUG? See Best Practices.

NASPA Strategic Partnership

"With six (6) controlled studies on five (5) campuses all showing significant reductions in destructive alcohol use among college students completing the e-CHUG online intervention, NASPA recognizes the e-CHUG as a true evidence-based approach that is showing significant promise." (Kevin Kruger, associate Director of NASPA). Kevin goes on to say "NASPA encourages campuses to give serious consideration to including evidence-based programs like the e-CHUG as a part of their comprehensive AOD prevention strategy."

Completing the e-CHUG

The basic intervention takes students 20-30 minutes to complete and review their personalized feedback report.  The program is self-guided, and requires no face-to-face contact time with a counselor or administrator. 

Should a campus administrator, counselor or faculty member want the student to spend more time reflecting on and responding to their e-CHUG feedback, the student can be asked to complete the companion “Personal Reflections” program.

The Personal Reflections program takes students an additional 15-20 minutes and requires students to respond to questions designed to deepen their thoughtful examination of their personal choices and the social norms surrounding and influencing their use of alcohol. The specific questions the student is required to answer are determined by each individual student’s unique e-CHUG profile.

Because it is offered online, the e-CHUG can provide quick, confidential feedback in multiple settings. This also allows a student to complete a personal 'check-up' on multiple occasions to track changes in use and risk behavior.

The personal feedback, used in conjunction with counseling, or as a stand-alone intervention, includes information which has been shown to be particularly motivating to college drinkers:

• Quantity and Frequency of Drinking, Caloric Intake
• Amount Consumed and Peak BAC
• Norm Comparisons
• Amount and Percent of Income Spent on Alcohol
• Tolerance Level
• Negative Consequences of Alcohol Use
• Personal Family Risk Score
• Explanation, advice, local referral information