# Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual violence in higher Education (RAISE)

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $572,479

## Abstract

This is a competitive renewal of a stakeholder-engaged study across 28 college campuses focused on tailored
harm reduction interventions to reduce risk for sexual violence (SV) among undergraduate college students
receiving care from college health and counseling centers (CHCs). “Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual vio-
lence in higher Education (RAISE)” is a longitudinal study that builds on a previous cluster-randomized con-
trolled trial on college campuses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia (R01 AA023260). We aim to reach stu-
dents at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking: students with history of SV, students who identify as sex-
ual/gender minority, and students who have disabilities (65% of our previous sample). SV, particularly alcohol-
involved SV, remains highly prevalent on college campuses. Our previous study found that a large proportion
of students seeking care in CHCs have experienced SV victimization (n=2291, 64% of women, 32% of men
report lifetime SV) which is associated with binge drinking. Students identifying as sexual or gender minority or
endorsing a disability (i.e., physical, emotional, sensory, neurologic, and learning impairments) report particu-
larly high lifetime prevalence of SV that is associated with greater odds of binge drinking compared to students
not exposed to SV. The previous RCT involved training CHC staff to deliver a brief educational intervention to
reduce SV risk, titled “Giving Information for Trauma Support and Safety” (GIFTSS), to all students seeking
care. Implementation varied across CHCs. Among students who received GIFTSS as intended, we found sig-
nificant increases in self-efficacy to use harm reduction strategies and SV-related services. Students with his-
tory of SV had greater than four-fold increase in odds of disclosing this history to providers. We identified pro-
vider-, clinic-and campus-level changes needed to improve intervention delivery. To more directly target use of
harm reduction strategies among students at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking, we also propose to
integrate a safety decision aid (myPlan app for use on smartphone or computer) which increases harm reduc-
tion behaviors among college women experiencing partner violence. The focus of this renewal is to 1) test
strategies to improve implementation of GIFTSS, 2) offer support for students at elevated risk for SV and haz-
ardous drinking with tailored harm reduction strategies delivered via the myPlan app after the clinic visit, and 3)
strengthen campus policies to promote access to SV services and reduce hazardous drinking. A 2x2 cluster
randomized controlled trial will compare two implementation strategies for GIFTSS in CHCs (provider scripts
vs. learning collaborative) focusing on undergraduate students ages 18-24 (N= 2400 across 28 campuses)
with follow-up at 4 months and 12 months (Aim 1). We will evaluate the effectiveness of myPlan in increasing
uptake of tailored harm reduction strategies for those at...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10851956
- **Project number:** 5R01AA023260-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Miller
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $572,479
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-08-20 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10851956

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10851956, Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual violence in higher Education (RAISE) (5R01AA023260-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10851956. Licensed CC0.

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