Scheduled for AAHE Research Coordinating Board: Professional Poster Session, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, National Association Poster Sessions


Sources of Supply for Teen Alcohol Consumption

Charles A. Duncan, Susan A. Lyman, Praphul Joshi, Lisa LeBlance, Phil Caillouet and Jackie Benedik, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Lafayette, LA

Alcohol is the drug of choice for many teenagers and the issues and problems related to alcohol consumption by teens are numerous and complex. Teens who consume alcohol are at greater risk for accidents, suicides, consumption of other nonprescription drugs, and high risk sexual behavior. Specific to the state of Louisiana, underage drinking is a serious problem with both emotional and financial costs. In 2005, teens consumed approximately 15 % of all alcohol sold within the state. For that same year, the estimated cost to Louisiana for underage drinking was 1.1 billion dollars. Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) is a national evidence-based model program that strives to reduce underage drinking through a variety of strategies, including reducing access to alcohol. As part of a multifaceted school violence prevention grant, an evaluation team collected data through the administration of the CMCA Teen Alcohol Survey. The survey is a standardized eight item instrument, approved by an IRB, and was administered to teenagers in Lafayette, Louisiana. This study examined sources of supply for teens who consume alcohol. The researchers wanted to know where teens access alcohol, when they purchase it, and who purchases alcohol for them. Although data collection is ongoing, to date 1978 surveys have been completed. For those teens who indicated self purchase of alcohol, convenience stores were the most frequent site of purchase, followed by liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, respectively. The percentage of teen responses, by age, which indicated purchase of their own alcohol increased each year. Only approximately 13 % of 13 yo respondents indicated that they purchased alcohol from a bar, restaurant, convenience store, and/or liquor store. For the 18+ age group, approximately 86% of responses indicated purchases of alcohol from one or more of those sources. For the respondents (13 – 17 yoa) indicating alcohol purchases by someone other than the teen, peer purchases were the most frequently indicated type, followed by parents, siblings, and strangers, respectively. These data would indicate the need for significant efforts to change attitudes and policies regarding alcohol purchase for underage drinkers. Teens in this study indicate they are able to make purchases of alcohol at multiple types of businesses. When alcohol is purchased for the under aged drinkers, peers, siblings and parents are often the providers. Attitudes and policies about alcohol purchases for and/or by teens need additional study to reduce the number of underage drinkers.
Keyword(s): community-based programs, health education K-12, safety/injury prevention

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