Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS) on college campuses is on the rise, but engaging students in college substance use prevention programs is challenging for practitioners and higher education professionals. This study aimed to elicit real-world evidence for college students’ preferences for components of a campus-sponsored NPS reduction program.

An online survey was administered to 257 18-25 year old undergraduate students from six public universities who had engaged in NPS in the past year. A discrete-choice experiment (DCE) assessed students’ preferences for components of a campus-sponsored NPS reduction program spanning four attributes: 1) setting, 2) leader, 3) topics discussed, and 4) additional resources provided, each consisting of three levels. The probability of selection and relative importance of each attribute were estimated for the aggregate sample. Preference subgroups were derived using latent class analysis.

The majority of the sample was female (57%), white (65%), and a Science and Engineering major (51%). The mean grade point average (GPA) was 3.2, 35% had an academic scholarship, and 47% received financial aid. The setting and the leader of the program had the greatest influence overall on participants’ preferences for an NPS reduction program. The latent class analysis yielded three distinct subgroups of students with heterogeneous preferences for components of NPS reduction programs: face-to-face (46%), online only (28%), and healthcare professional preferred (24%).

This study suggests that efforts to reduce NPS should adopt multiple modalities to appeal to a wider range of students. Further research should examine how to customize NPS reduction programs to engage students and how to incentivize student participation these programs.