prepared by david s. anderson, ph.d. professor of education and human development george mason...

DRUG AND ALCOHOL TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES

2011

VIRGINIA YOUTH ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROJECT

Prepared byDavid S. Anderson, Ph.D.

Professor of Education and Human DevelopmentGeorge Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

703-993-3698 [email protected] caph.gmu.edu

General Adult Population

General Usage Patterns

0

2500

5000

7500

10000

12500

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

27500 Alcohol-Related Fatalities

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities, Rate per 100,000, Ages 18-20 vs. 21-24, United States, 1982-2007

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Source: U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2009; U.S. Census Bureau, 2009

U.S. MLDA Age 21 law

MLDA 21 in all 50 states

Ages 18-20

↓60%

Ages 21-24

↓44%27.35 (n=4,733) 15.33

(n=2,583)

11.97 (n=1,520)

30.25 (n=3,867)

Data in initial NIAAA college report

"Although statistics on drug use in the United States are not fully reliable, the numbers available indicate that US consumption of cocaine and marijuana has been essentially stable for many years—although considerably reduced from its peak in the 1970s and 1980s. The data also show that, today, the United States consumes illegal substances at a rate some three times that of Europe—although the use of drugs in the EU continues to grow rapidly and a few countries actually consume more per capita than the United States. In both the United States and Europe, the wholesale and street prices of cannabis and cocaine have declined in the past several years, although reportedly their potency has increased and demand remains steady. Across the world, illicit drugs appear to be available at stable or declining prices. A recent EU Commission study concluded that global drug production and use remained largely unchanged during the period from 1998 through 2007.“Source:

Hakim, Peter, "Rethinking US Drug Policy," Inter-American Dialogue (Washington, DC: The Beckley Foundation, February, 2010), p. 4.http://www.thedialogue.org/uploads/Documents_and_PDFs/Documents_and_PDFs...

http://www.thedialogue.org/uploads/Documents_and_PDFs/Documents_and_PDFs_2/Rethinking_US_Drug_Policy.pdf

http://www.thedialogue.org/uploads/Documents_and_PDFs/Documents_and_PDFs_2/Rethinking_US_Drug_Policy.pdf

Percentage Change in Lifetime and Monthly Substance Use (ages 12 and older)

Percent Change

Lifetime Eight-Year

%chg 2002-2009

Lifetime Five-Year %chg 2002-2006

Monthly Eight-Year %chg 2002-2009

Monthly Five-Year %chg 2002-2006

ILLICIT DRUGS - ALL +9.7% +3.3% +11.7% +4.3%

Marijuana +10.0% +3.0% +14.6% +1.6%

Cocaine +7.9% +4.1% -19.0% +19.9%

Crack -0.5% +1.8% -13.2% +23.8%

Heroin +0.4% +3.2% +17.5% +103.6%

Hallucinogens +8.6% +2.8% +5.2% -15.9%

Ecstasy +40.2% +20.8% +12.4% -21.9%

Psychotherapeutics +8.0% +6.3% +10.6% +12.9%

Pain Relievers +18.4% +13.0% +20.1% +19.3%

Methamphetamine -16.5% -7.5% -26.5% +7.0%

Illicit-other-than-marijuana

+7.8% +3.7% +4.3% +9.5%

Alcohol +6.7% +4.1% +9.0% +4.6%

Alcohol – Heavy -- -- +8.0% +6.8%

Tobacco +1.3% +1.2% -2.5% +1.9%

Percentage Change in Monthly Substance Use(ages 12 and older)

Percent ChangeMonthly Eight-Year %chg

2002-2009 Monthly Five-Year %chg

2002-2006

ILLICIT DRUGS - ALL +11.7% +4.3%Marijuana +14.6% +1.6%Cocaine -19.0% +19.9%Crack -13.2% +23.8%

Heroin +17.5% +103.6%Hallucinogens +5.2% -15.9%

Ecstasy +12.4% -21.9%Psychotherapeutics +10.6% +12.9%

Pain Relievers +20.1% +19.3%Methamphetamine -26.5% +7.0%

Illicit-other-than-marijuana +4.3% +9.5%

Alcohol +9.0% +4.6%Alcohol – Heavy +8.0% +6.8%

Tobacco -2.5% +1.9%

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Drug_Usage#Change

Treatment Episode Data Set - Admissions (TEDS-A), 2008

http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/quicktables/quickoptions.do

High School and Middle School Youth

Patterns Linked to Start of Use Use Linked to Homework Checked by

Parents Use Linked to Involvement in Activities

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

8th 10th 12th

Grade

Pe

rce

nt

Us

ing

in P

as

t M

on

th

Alcohol

Cigarettes

Marijuana

Alcohol is the Substance of Choice Among Adolescents

Source: Monitoring the Future

Youth drink less frequently than adults, but drink more per occasion

Source: SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002

2.67

4.79

8.91

4.87

0

2

4

6

8

10

Youth Adults

Drinks per Occasion Drinking Days per Month

(12-17) (26 and older)

A number of information sources are used to quantify America’s drug problem and to monitor drug abuse trends. Foremost among these sources are the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey* and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health** (NSDUH). Since 1975, the MTF survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use as well as related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. For the 2010 survey, 46,482 students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades from 396 public and private schools participated. Funded by NIDA, the MTF survey is conducted by investigators at the University of Michigan. The NSDUH is an annual survey on the nationwide prevalence and incidence of illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, abuse, and dependence among Americans aged 12 years and older, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Approximately 67,500 people are included in this survey. Because of differences in the timing of administration of the surveys, reported NSDUH data are 1 year behind those of MTF.In MTF and NSDUH, there are three primary prevalence periods for which data are reported: lifetime, past year, and past month (also referred to as “current”). It is generally believed that past year and past month are the better indicators of actual use. However, some analyses are done for only one specific prevalence period.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/nationtrends.html

High School and Middle School Youth:

30 Day Alcohol Use

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

12th Grade10th Grade8th Grade

http://monitoringthefuture.org/data/10data.html#2010data-drugs

05

10152025303540 12th Grade

10th Grade8th Grade


Drunk in Last 30 Days



5 or more drinks in a row in last 2 weeks

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

12th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade


High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Tobacco Use

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

12th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade



Any illicit drug in last 30 days

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

12th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade



Any illicit drug other than marijuana in last 30 days

0

5

10

15

20

2512th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade


High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Marijuana Use

0

5

10

15

20

25

12th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade


High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Ecstasy Use

-1

1

3

5

7

9

11

13



High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Narcotics Use

-1

1

3

5

7

9

11

13

1512th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade


High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Cocaine Use

-1

1

3

5

7

9

11

13



High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Inhalant Use

-1

1

3

5

7

9

11

13



High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day LSD Use

-1

1

3

5

7

9

11

13

1512th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade


High School and Middle School Youth: 30 Day Amphetamine Use

-1

1

3

5

7

9

11

13

15 12th Grade

10th Grade

8th Grade


National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2009http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/SAMHDA/

According to NSDUH, overall prevalence of underage (ages 12–20) alcohol use and binge drinking has shown a gradual decline across all prevalence periods.In 2009, an estimated 30.2 million people (12.0 percent) aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year. Although this reflects a downward trend from 14.2 percent in 2002, it remains a cause for concern.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/nationtrends.html

The decline in illicit drug use by the Nation’s adolescents since the mid- to late-1990s has leveled off. Among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, most measures of illicit drug use remained unchanged from 2009 to 2010. Marijuana use rose this year—a sharp contrast to the considerable decline of the preceding decade. The downward trend in ecstasy use has been reversed as well, with significant increases this year following a considerable and recent decline in the belief that its use is dangerous.

Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications accounted for most of the top drugs abused by 12th graders in the past year. Among 12th graders, past-year nonmedical use of Vicodin decreased from 9.7 percent to 8.0 percent. However, past-year nonmedical use of Oxycontin remained unchanged across the three grades and has increased among 10th graders over the past 5 years. Moreover, past-year nonmedical use of Adderall and OTC cough and cold medicines among 12th graders remained high at 6.5 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.

Complete NSDUH findings are available at www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUHLatest.htm.

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUHLatest.htm

The Partnership at Drugfree.orghttp://www.drugfree.org/newsroom/new-research-teen-

drug-and-alcohol-use-headed-in-wrong-direction

Underage Drinking in EuropeAustria

BelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprus

Czech RepublicDenmark

EstoniaFarce Islands

FinlandFrance

GermanyGreece

GreenlandHungary

IcelandIreland

Isle of ManItaly

LatviaLithuania

MaltaNetherlands

NorwayPoland

PortugalRomania

RussiaSlovak Republic

SloveniaSweden

SwitzerlandTurkey

UkraineUK

USA

AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprus

Czech RepublicDenmark

Estonia

FranceGermany

GreeceGreenland

IcelandIreland

Isle of ManItaly

LatviaLithuania

MaltaNetherlands

NorwayPoland

PortugalRomania

RussiaSlovak Republic

SwedenSwitzerland

TurkeyUkraine

UKSpainUSA

Slovenia

Percent of 15-Year Olds Who Drank to Intoxication in the Past 12 Months

Percent of 15-Year Olds Who Consumed an Alcoholic Beverage in

the Past 12 Months

ESPAD 2003

Farce IslandsFinland

Hungary

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

57

29

4645

18

47

73

424245

36

51

25

4348

62

28

4542

37 3635

40

32

25 26

40

50

4246

3740

32

58

35

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Aus

tria

Bel

gium

Bul

garia

Cro

atia

Cyp

rus

Cze

ch R

epub

licD

enm

ark

Esto

nia

Faro

e Is

land

sFi

nlan

dFr

ance

Ger

man

yG

reec

eH

unga

ryIre

land

Isle

of M

anIta

lyLa

tvia

Lith

uani

aM

alta

Mon

aco

Net

herla

nds

Nor

way

Pola

ndPo

rtuga

lR

oman

iaR

ussi

aSl

ovak

Rep

ublic

Slov

enia

Spai

nSw

eden

Switz

erla

ndU

krai

neU

.K.

Uni

ted

Stat

es

Percent Drunk in Past Year, Students Ages 15-16, ESPAD 2007

Source: Grant and Dawson (1997) J. Substance Abuse

College Youth

General Usage Patterns Student-Athletes

TRADITIONAL-AGE COLLEGE STUDENTS:

ALCOHOL USE IN LAST 30 DAYS

0102030405060708090

100

http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol2_2009.pdf


DRUNK IN LAST 30 DAYS

05

101520253035404550


USE OF ALCOHOL BY TRADITIONAL-AGE COLLEGE STUDENTS:

5+ Drinks at a Setting in the Last Two Weeks


0

20

40

60

80

100


30 DAY USE OF MARIJUANA

0

5

10

15

20

25



30 DAY USE OF ECSTASY

0

5

10

15

20

25


TRADITIONAL-AGE COLLEGE STUDENTS:30 DAY USE OF NARCOTICS OTHER THAN

HEROIN

0

5

10

15

20

25



30 DAY USE OF COCAINE

0

5

10

15

20

25



30 DAY USE OF INHALANTS

0

5

10

15

20

25


TRADITIONAL-AGE COLLEGE STUDENTS:30 DAY USE OF LSD

0

5

10

15

20

25



30 DAY USE OF AMPHETAMINES

0

5

10

15

20

25


Student-Athlete / GreekAlcohol Use

Drinks per Week, 1999

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

non-Greek,nonathlete

non-Greek,athlete

Greek, non-athlete

Greek,athlete

femalemaletotal

Source: Core Institute http://www.siu.edu/departments/coreinst/public_html/

Student-Athletes:Negative Consequences of Drinking

Athlete Non-Athlete

Regretted behavior

46.4% 37.2%

Missed a class 39.4% 31.6%

Blackout 36.0% 27.6%

Had unplanned sexual activity

31.0% 22.7%

5 or more neg. consequences

29.5% 20.1%Harvard College Alcohol Study, 2001

Student-AthletesReasons for Alcohol Use

“What is the one main reason you use alcoholic beverages?”

82.6% Recreational or social purposes13.6% Because it makes me feel good3.3% Helps me deal with the

stresses of college life and college athletics

0.0% Improves my athletic performance

Source: NCAA Study of Substance Use Habits of College Student-Athletes, 2005

74.7 74.581.5

17.3 17.8

25.8

16.2 16.6 16.412.3 14.1

16.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Division I Division II Division III

Pe

rc

en

t

alcohol marijuana spit tobacco cigarettes

Student Athletes: Social Drug Use by NCAA Division


77.2 76.8

22.616.9

25.8

1.7

12.815.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Male Female

Percen

t


Student-Athletes:Social Drug Use by Gender


82

52.8

70.1

21.3

1419.718.6

5.3

1215.36

15.1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

White Black Other

Pe

rce

nt


Student-Athletes:Social Drug Use by Ethnicity


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1989 1993 1997 2001 2005

Perc

en

t


Student-Athletes: Social Drug Use over Time


55.5 56.5 61.9

20.7 22.6

26.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1997 2001 2005

Pe

rce

nt

Male Female

Student-Athletes:Consumption of 6+ Drinks per Sitting, Among

Drinkers


20.5 20.7

27.8

2.3 2.43.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1997 2001 2005

Perc

en

t

Male Female

Student-Athletes:Consumption of 10+ Drinks per Sitting, Among Drinkers


Student-Athletes:Reasons Drinkers Choose to Limit Drinking

Athlete NonathleteDriving 90.9% 91.7%

Studying 78.4% 74.5%

Interferes with athletics

61.2% 18.3%

On a date 46.4% 40.8%

Fattening 30.2% 26.3%

Afraid of getting caught

22.7% 18.5%

Source: Harvard College Alcohol Study, 2001

Anderson and Gadaleto, 2009 College Alcohol Survey www.caph.gmu.edu

http://www.caph.gmu.edu/

Campus Property Damage

Campus Policy Violation

Residence Hall Damage

Violent Behavior

0 20 40 60 80 100

50

57

57

58

Mean Averages

Alcohol's Involvement with Campus Behavior: 2009



Student Attrition

Lack of Academic Success

Diminished Performance on Test or Project

Missed Classes

0 20 40 60 80 100

26

30

30

35

Mean Averages

Alcohol’s Involvement in Academic Issues: 2009



Teen Drinking:Qualitative Research

High School Youth Parents Community Leaders

http.teenalcoholcultures.gmu.edu

Understanding Teen Drinking Cultures in America

RESEARCH STRATEGIES

Literature Review 250 articles, 59 dissertations/theses, 34

government/non-profit reports, 19 books, 19 data sets

Telephone Polling 1623 interviews [1014 parents and 609 teens] 522 are matched pairs [parent and teen]

Key Informant and Individual Interviews 58 completed [blend of community , school,

law, and health] Expert Interviews

28 completed [includes university, research, government, medical, and authors]

The methodology incorporated a blend of approaches, and involves the use of a national Advisory Panel.

http://teenalcoholcultures.gmu.edu

RESEARCH STRATEGIES (continued)

Focus Groups [N=71] 59 with youth [47 high school, 6 middle school, 6 college] 8 with parents 4 with community leaders 513 youth were involved in focus groups

396 high school and 35 middle school youth High school youth were balanced with boys/girls and white/non-

white No notable differences were found based on race/ethnicity Few differences were found based on gender

Sites included Northern Virginia, Bucks County (PA), Orange County (FL), Minneapolis, Santa Fe (NM), Northern New Jersey, and rural Georgia. No notable differences were found based on setting

(urban/rural/suburban)


META FINDINGS

Inadequacy of Current KnowledgeMuch current knowledge is based on survey research.Limited conversational research is found with teens, parents or other front line personnel. Current expert knowledge is often limited.

Disjunction Between Formal and Informal RulesTeens and parents have their own practices and beliefs about what is practical and appropriate.These practices and beliefs often diverge sharply from legal codes.


META FINDINGS (cont’d)

Differences Between Parent and Teen ViewsTeens cite academic challenges more often than parents.Teens are more likely to cite emotional or social reasons for drinking and for getting drunk.Parents attach more importance to family relationships as motivators for teens’ drinking or not drinking.

Extreme Teen BehaviorTeens engage in high risk drinking behaviors on a frequent basis. Teens who drink do so for emotional and social reasons.


META FINDINGS (cont’d)

Lack of Helpful InformationTeens have minimal knowledge of alcohol’s effects (beyond drinking and driving consequences).Teens and parents are unaware of helpful resources.Teens and parents lack skills for meaningful dialogue on alcohol.

Not Sure What to DoParents and community leaders are unsure how to address teen drinking.Parents and community leaders focus primarily on policy or law enforcement approaches.


TELEPHONE POLLING: Challenges Facing Teens

Acade

mics

/Sch

ool

Socia

l

Leisu

re A

ctivi

ties

Fam

ily

Health

Emot

iona

l

Wor

k/Mon

ey

Balan

ce

DK/NR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

TeensParents


TELEPHONE POLLING: Reasons Teens Drink Alcohol

Socia

l

Emot

iona

l

Effec

t/High/

Curious

Fam

ily

Other

Acces

sibilit

y

Cultu

re/M

edia In

fluen

ece

DK/NR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

TeenParents


TELEPHONE POLLING: Reasons Teens Do Not Drink Alcohol

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

TeenParents


TELEPHONE POLLING: Reasons Teens Get Drunk

Social Emotional Curiosity/Effects Other Family DK/NR0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

TeenParents


TELEPHONE POLLING: Messages Heard From Parents

Don't

Drink

Know

ledg

e Bas

ed In

form

ation

Respo

nsible D

ecisi

on-M

aking

Drinkin

g an

d Driv

ing

Polic

ies/L

aws

Don't

Talk

About

it

Fam

ily R

ole

Mod

els

Other

DK/NR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

TeenParents


TELEPHONE POLLING: Messages Heard From Teachers/Counselors

Know

ledg

e Bas

ed In

form

ation

Don't

Drink

Respo

nsible D

ecisi

on-M

aking

Drinkin

g an

d Driv

ing

Don't

Talk

abou

t it a

t Sch

ool

Polic

ies/L

aws

Prog

ram

s/Class

es

Other

DK/NR

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

TeenParent


TELEPHONE POLLING: Messages Heard From Peers

Posit

ive M

essa

ges (

Pro

Alcoho

l)

Negat

ive M

essa

ges (

Against A

lcoho

l)

Don't

Talk

About

it

Drinkin

g St

atus

of P

eers

Other

DK/NR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

TeenParents


TELEPHONE POLLING: Messages Heard From Others

Don't

Drink

Know

ledg

e Bas

ed In

form

ation

Posit

ive M

essa

ges A

bout

Alco

hol

Mod

eling

Behav

iors

/Sto

ries

Drinkin

g an

d Driv

ing

Laws/P

unish

men

ts

Other

Religious

Mes

sage

DK/NR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

TeenParents


TEEN DRINKING BEHAVIORS

Teens report that obtaining alcohol is quite easy, through relationships (older siblings, friends, co-workers), places of purchase, theft or party settings.

Unlike other studies, our middle school teens report having few to no experiences with alcohol.

Boys are typically expected to provide alcohol for girls.



Teens drink primarily to get drunk; drinking for taste or mild effects is rare.

Teens drink to deal with stress, to facilitate group membership, and to feel better.

Teens’ transition to high school is a high-risk time.



Early drinking experiences are frequently dangerous “trials by fire” where teens learn by experimentation.

While youth are aware of family and legal consequences, they are often confident that they will not get caught.


Categories of Teen Drinking


PARENTS

Parents are often unsure how to talk to their teens and to other parents about teen alcohol consumption.

Parents feel a lack of information and guidance.

Parents are aware of the divergence between legal codes and informal practices.

Public moralism and zero tolerance laws make frank conversation with their teen(s) and other parents difficult.

PARENTS

Parents are four times as likely as teens to think that alcohol education programs, such as those at school, are effective.

Parents believe that schools emphasize informational and legal messages, including

don’t drink alcohol affects your health don’t drink and drive alcohol use is illegal under 21

Teens report limited to no conversations on alcohol with parents during teen years.

TEENS

Teens want more information about alcohol.

Teens want judgment-free information about alcohol from sources they can trust; they do not trust school-based education programs.

Most teens report that alcohol is talked about by school authorities, and report informational, legal and proscriptive messages.

Whatever their actual behavior, teens report hearing and respecting messages about not drinking and driving.

TEENS

Teens typically don’t see drinking as a problem, unless they get in trouble with those in authority.

Teens see other teens’ drinking as more of a problem than their own, even if the behavior is essentially the same.

Teens overwhelmingly deny the importance of peer pressure in decisions to consume or not consume alcohol.

However, teens have a poorly developed concept of peer pressure.

Teens see drinking as pleasurable and often essential to socializing with other teens.

For many teens, drinking is a primary extracurricular activity.

FRAMEWORK FOR YOUTH POSITIVE ALCOHOL DECISIONS

Underlying or Core Factors

Intrinsic or Vital Factors Extrinsic Factors Contextual Factors

*Strong core values*Feel connected to past and future*Has a sense of purpose

*Family bonds*Feeling loved and listened to*Feeling capable (confidence)*Aware of areas of concern *Knows where to turn for assistance*Feels supported*Has balance in life*Good coping skills to deal with anxiety, stress, high expectations*Friends provide support*Friends encourage behavior change as needed

*Spend family time together*Healthy family*Has open communication / conversation with parents *Has meals with families *Has good sense of personal boundaries *Feels affirmation*Has clear and reasonable expectations*Skills to interact with others*Sees parents as partners and guides*Reflect on self *Has positive role models

*Engaged in activities, clubs*Has opportunity to learn by doing, experiment, make mistakes*Is encouraged to stretch and extend comfort zone

The Teen’s World The Role of Alcohol


FRAMEWORK FOR YOUTH RISKY ALCOHOL DECISIONS

Underlying Causes

Intrinsic Factors Extrinsic Factors Contextual Factors

*Stress*Feel pressure*Discouragement*Disenfranchised*Lonely*Seeking own identity*Insecure*Hopelessness

*Lack coping skills*Boredom (nothing to do)*Not comfortable being alone*Lack of goals or mission *Escape*To experience things themselves*No reflection*To fit in*To be older*To rebel*Unrealistic expectations (life, situations)

*Lack knowledge and information*Lack meaningful conversation with parents*Lack of role models*Allure (TV, songs, ads)*No substantive, consistent legal consequences*Conflicting messages (adults drink)* Educational dishonesty, inadequacy, mistrust

*Peer acceptability*Peers’ encouragement*Ease of access*Party availability*Alcohol is readily available*Societal acceptability

The Teen’s World The Role of Alcohol



Underlying Causes

Intrinsic Factors

Extrinsic Factors

Contextual Factors

Role of AlcoholThe Teen’s World


Underlying Causes

Intrinsic Factors

Extrinsic Factors

Contextual Factors

FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY ACTIONTYPE OF EFFORT

Policy Program Training Environment

GROUP OR

ORGANIZATION

Schools Consistently implemented rules and regulationsStandards for school employees and visitors

Curriculum that is meaningfulClubs and organizationsAfter school activities

Personnel preparation with identification and referral

School bonding and community-building activitiesRecognition for positive contributions

Law Enforcement

Laws and policies throughout the communityEnforcement of laws

Sponsor local eventsParticipate in community activities

Mentoring youth Community resource officers in school and community settings

Health Services Services available for teens

Public awareness materialsCommunity forum and dialog

How to identify problematic useHow to be supportive

Promote as trusted sourceSpokespersons

Community Standards and guidelines

Community forum and dialog

Prepare adults and community leaders to understand today’s youth needsGroup meeting behavior

Volunteering for community eventsPublic awareness activities

Youth-Serving Organizations

Engage in establishing community policies

Community-wide activities

Mentoring opportunities for older teens

Provide awards for positive contributions

Understanding Teen Drinking Cultures CHALLENGES

• Focus groups: Difficulty identifying site coordinators to provide leadership and handle logistics with coordinating multiple focus groups and interviews.

• Access to Youth: Reaching youth faces roadblocks from gatekeepers.

• Human Subjects Review Board: Requests for protocols require reworking design (e.g., Initial refusal to allow recruitment through schools, need for approval from each school for focus groups, concern about use of incentives, need for approval of each referring organization for on-line polling, limits on certain open-ended questions with telephone polling, initial requirement for written consent from parent for telephone polling)

• Timelines: Changing standards and delayed reviews from HSRB affects schedules and plans.

• Multiple approaches: More sequential scheduling of strategies would assist ongoing refinement of research questions; difficult within limited time frame.


RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations are prepared within each of the following areas of emphasis: Youth Parents and Families Communities and Schools Future Research Overall


RECOMMENDATIONS: YOUTH

Engage youth in a meaningful way in planning extracurricular activities, information needs, learning experiences.

Address the core needs of youth, with attention to underlying causes and intrinsic factors.

Provide opportunities for youth to discuss their needs, concerns, and other issues.

Provide teens with factual information about alcohol and its interaction with the body.

Enroll older siblings as part of the solution.


RECOMMENDATIONS: PARENTS and FAMILIES

Provide opportunities for parent-to-parent discussion of dilemmas and challenges.

Promote trust and ongoing dialog with teens about their lives.

Provide parents and older siblings with current, accurate information and resource assistance.

Enhance parents’ skills and confidence for having ongoing conversations with teens about alcohol, consequences, and underlying causes.

Encourage parents’ and older siblings’ skills and responsibilities.


RECOMMENDATIONS: COMMUNITIES and SCHOOLS

Community leaders should prepare a community-wide strategy that engages all partners through a systems approach, and incorporates appropriate benchmarks to monitor progress.

Community leaders should seek heightened priority of teen alcohol issues and underlying causes, with increased visibility and attention.

Communities and schools should provide a range of positive outlets for youth involvement and engagement.

Community leaders should identify modes of access to alcohol used by youth and implement consistent standards and consequences.


RECOMMENDATIONS: COMMUNITIES and SCHOOLS (continued)

Engage various individuals and groups as communicators or sponsors of teen alcohol abuse prevention messages.

Establish opportunities for dialog about teen drinking. Schools should provide curriculum material or extra-

curricular programming on alcohol that is honest, provocative, engaging.

Incorporate content on alcohol and related issues in a range of courses offered in school.

Host life skills development sessions for youth and parents.

Identify partnership opportunities.


RECOMMENDATIONS: RESEARCH

Facilitate additional qualitative research on teen alcohol cultures by a range of individuals/groups.

Review community-based efforts, organizing strategies, monitoring approaches.

Examine curricular materials and methods. Examine messages youth hear on drinking alcohol. Explore the role of athletics, service activities, and

other extracurricular activities in youth decisions about alcohol.


RECOMMENDATIONS: RESEARCH (continued)

Research in more detail the four categories of teen alcohol behavior.

Better understand the role of and opportunities with older siblings in youth decisions.

Conduct a detailed systems analysis of one or more communities regarding alcohol culture.

Gain more detailed understanding of youth knowledge about alcohol, its effects, and decision-making factors.


RECOMMENDATIONS: RESEARCH (continued)

Investigate the relationship between teen drinking and religious affiliation.

Further investigate social hosting practices. Examine consistency regarding alcohol issues

within households. Better understand teens’ use of alcohol with

prescription drugs.


RECOMMENDATIONS: OVERALL

Maintain a perspective that understanding youth alcohol decisions is very complex, based on both the Youth Alcohol Decision Frameworks.

Engage key influencers of youth, particularly those who could be mentors.

Embrace affirming and fact-based approaches.

Maintain a perspective that changing teen drinking cultures is attainable and appropriate.


prepared by david s. anderson, ph.d. professor of education and human development george mason...

Documents

use of drugs

states ages

united states

illicit drugs

monthly substance use

drug use

alcohol heavy

percentage change