Why delaying alcohol use is important

In January, Aaron White, PhD, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism presented information about "Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain" during a free webinar. The presentation included information about adolescent brain development and how it is hurt by alcohol. Below are a few of the slides, which may be downloaded from the UDETC website along with an audio recording.

Engaging communities to prevent underage drinking

I often get questions about community coalitions, like Prevention WINS, and our role in preventing youth substance abuse.  An article appearing in a recent edition of Alcohol Research & Health (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) explains how communities engaged in preventing underage drinking are particularly effective.  Following are a few excerpts about what makes for a successful coalition from Engaging Communities to Prevent Underage Drinking:

Community-based efforts offer broad potential for achieving population-level reductions in alcohol misuse among youth and young adults.  A common feature of successful community strategies is reliance on local coalitions to select and fully implement preventive interventions that have been shown effective in changing factors that influence risk of you engaging in alcohol use . . .

Although coalitions are a common element of effective community-based prevention, not all coalition efforts have produced significant changes in alcohol use . . . The evaluations [of unsuccessful community efforts] indicated that . . . the mere presence of an active, well-intentioned coalition is not enough to prevent AOD [alcohol and other drugs] use.  In other words, simply gathering local stakeholders and asking them to collaborate to do their best to solve local drug problems or preventing underage drinking does not produce desired changes.

Instead, the evidence suggests that in order to be successful, coalitions must ensure the following:

~ They must have clearly defined, focused, and manageable goals;

~ They must have adequate planning time;

~ Prevention decisions must be based on empirical data about what needs to change in the community and on evidence from scientifically valid students of what has worked to address those needs;

~ They must implement prevention policies, practices, and programs that have been tested and shown to be effective; and

~ They must carefully monitor prevention activities to ensure implementation quality.

NIH release clinicians guide to screen for underage drinking

From a recent NIH news release:

Based on just two questions from a newly released guide, health care professionals could spot children and teenagers at risk for alcohol-related problems.  Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide is now available from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health. 

We know that alcohol is by far the drug of choice among youth,” says NIAAA acting director Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D. “Underage drinking is also a marker for other unhealthy behaviors and it often goes undetected. This new tool was designed to allow busy practitioners who manage the health and well-being of children and adolescents to conduct fast, effective alcohol screens and brief interventions.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says doctors should routinely screen their teenage patients for drug and alcohol use at every visit, and look for signs of dependence or addiction.  In a new policy statement, the group provides a guide to help doctors ask adolescents about substance abuse issues.

Data support keeping drinking age at 21

To inform the debate on the impact of the minimum legal drinking age law (MLDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) compiled an overview of research and findings indicated that the MLDA law had positive effects on health and safety. It states:

Solving the problem of underage drinking will require a broad-based, long-term commitment. As we move forward, we need to pay attention to what history and research have taught us and build on this knowledge base including what we know about the relationship between minimum legal drinking age laws and underage drinking and is consequences.

Recently, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation compiled a brief that offers additional information about the positive effects of the law. It states:

There is no evidence that lowering the MLDA will reduce the underage drinking problem. Conversely, there is strong evidence that lowering the drinking age will increase youthful alcohol consumption and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities.