Webinar explains some solutions to underage drinking

In April, a webinar provided communities with information about some activities that have proven to prevent underage drinking.  National experts expanded on the shape of the solution to underage drinking introduced during the first webinar in a series hosted by several federal agencies. The discussions focused on evidence-based strategies for preventing underage drinking that are age and culturally appropriate and address both individual and environmental factors.  The full webinar may be viewed by clicking here and below are a few key slides.

The webinar started with Frances M. Harding, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, providing an overview of key prevention concepts.  She began with discussing risk & protective factors, how they contribute to substance use, and how communities can use them to identify prevention activities.

To be most effective in preventing youth substance use, multiple prevention activities must be implemented in a community.  Activities conducted during student transitions -- between elementary and middle school, between middle and high school, and between high school and college or work -- are especially important.

Prevention activities are important in all domains: individual, family, school, community, and society.

Community domain prevention activities include:

• enforcement of laws meant to reduce access to alcohol and other drugs among youth;
• minimum legal drinking age of 21;
• increase in price/taxes;
• reduce access to legal drugs by limiting retail outlet density, enacting tight regulations, and monitoring the implementation of drug-related policies;
• advertising restrictions.

Free online training: How to prevent underage drinking

Throughout 2013, the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) is hosting a series of webinars on underage drinking.  The next one will take place next week.

Shape of the Solution
April 17, 2013
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

National experts will expand on the shape of the solution to underage drinking.  The discussion will focus on evidence-based prevention strategies that are age and culturally appropriate and address both individual and environmental factors.  Following the presentation, panelists will engage in a live question-and-answer period.

To register, click here.

Underage drinking: the problem and how to prevent it

On January 30, the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention ofUnderage Drinking (ICCPUD) hosted a webinar about the nature and extent of underage drinking, recent research and available evidence-based solutions to the problem.  A recording of the webinar is now available online.  

Here are a few slides from the webinar.  The first four, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, describe the problem.  The second four, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, discuss evidence-based prevention strategies.

All slides from this webinar are available online.