Reducing Underage Alcohol Problems: Why and How

1
Reducing Underage Alcohol Problems Why and How

• John Bunker, ScD, MHS
• President, New Futures

2
Our Issues
Why?
Reduce Underage Alcohol Problems
Increase Access to Treatment
New Futures
3
Alcohol is our 1 Youth Drug Problem
Percentage of NH High School students using in
past 30 days
Marijuana
Tobacco
Cocaine
Alcohol
NH YRBS, 2005
4
NH ranks near the top for 12-20 year-

olds
drinking
5
Its not just the drinking that presents a problem
6
Alcohol Affects Adolescents Differently Than
Adults

• The brain is still developing through the early
  20s. Drinking during this critical period may
  permanently harm the brain. (White and
  Swartzwelder, 2005)
• Short term or moderate drinking impairs learning
  and memory far more in youth than adults. (AMA,
  2004)

7
The costs of underage alcohol problems are
tremendous
8
Alcohol use is linked to major causes of NH
death, ages 10-24
CDC, 2003
9
Students beliefs about drinking change with age
(YRBS, 2005)
10
The great drinking age debate
11
The brain undergoes dramatic changes during
adolescence
Blue represents maturing of brain areas.
12
Early drinking increases the likelihood of
developing problems
that will develop alcohol problems
Age of first drink
(Hingson et al., 2006)

• In New Hampshire, more than 1 in 5 (19) high
  school students had their first drink of alcohol
  before the age of 13.
• (YRBS, 2005)

13
Our Issues
How?
Reduce Underage Alcohol Problems
Increase Access to Treatment
New Futures
14
New Hampshires strategy to reduce underage
alcohol problems provides a roadmap

• Public Awareness

15
Media has a significant impact on drinking
behavior by youth
16
(No Transcript)
17
Parental attitudes do matter

• The more non-drinkers think their parents
  disapprove of underage drinking the more potent
  they think alcohol is (Martino et al, 2006)
• Adults' approval of alcohol use is highly
  correlated with youth drinking behavior (Foley et
  al, 2004)
• Among fathers, closer monitoring was directly
  associated with less adolescent substance use
  (Bogenschneider et al, 1998)

18
New Hampshires strategy to reduce underage
alcohol problems provides a roadmap

• Public Awareness
• Education

19
Education
20
New Hampshires strategy to reduce underage
alcohol problems provides a roadmap

• Public Awareness
• Education
• Opportunities for Limiting Access

21
Opportunities for Limiting Access
22
New Hampshires strategy to reduce underage
alcohol problems provides a roadmap

• Public Awareness
• Education
• Opportunities for Limiting Access
• Working Together

23
Sanborn/Timberlane Safe and Drug Free Community
Coalition We know we can!
24
How adults treat alcohol influences underage use

• Adult binge drinking estimates in states are a
  strong predictor of binge drinking rates on
  college campuses
• Binge drinking among college students were about
  one-third lower in 10 states with lowest adult
  binge drinking compared with the highest
• States with lower binge drinking estimates tend
  to have more stringent alcohol control policies

Nelson TF, Am J Public Health, 2005
25
New Hampshires strategy to reduce underage
alcohol problems provides a roadmap

• Public Awareness
• Education
• Opportunities for Limiting Access
• Working Together
• Ensuring Success Effectiveness

26
(No Transcript)
27
New Hampshires strategy to reduce underage
alcohol problems provides a roadmap

• Public Awareness
• Education
• Opportunities for Limiting Access
• Working Together
• Ensuring Success Effectiveness

28
Our Issues
Reduce Underage Alcohol Problems
Increase Access to Treatment
New Futures