Question

CASE STUDY 6.1 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN UNDERAGE DRINKING INTERVENTION

Dr. Smith works for a local university, and has been approached by a local health department about a project pertaining to high alcohol consumption among high school students. According to local statistics produced by the health department, 35% of adolescents in the community have never had alcohol and do not plan to have it in the near future, 35% of adolescents have never had alcohol but are planning to try it or are willing to try it in the near future, 25% of adolescents have consumed alcohol at least once in the last 30 days, and 5% of adolescents have consumed alcohol at least 5 times in the last 30 days. The local health department wants to create an intervention to reduce underage drinking in the community but is unsure about what to target, whom to target, and how to implement the program.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. In a comprehensive intervention, which levels of prevention would be relevant?

2. How could the ecological model be used to help identify factors associated with underage drinking? Brainstorm various factors in the ecological model that could be associated with underage drinking.

Answer 1

Above scenario showing that above 25 % of adolescents consume alcohol once in past 30 days and also 5% of them 5 times in last 30 days .

The minimum age of alcohol consumption should be above 18 yrs. Some state they accept the minimum age to purchase is 21 but the drinking age is accepted most of the country is above 18 yrs.  

Social ecological theories suggest that great community alcohol availability and individual drinker character should jointly affect drinking character and the use of drinking pattern.

Researchers suggest that teenagers are more likely than adults because of the way the human brain develops.During adolescents the teenagers brains pleasure centres mature quickly than the part of the brain responsible for sound decision making.

Factors associated with underage drinking:-

Popular media :-movies and other media influences and they are thinking this is ok for them .

Influence other people. Teenagers are looking their parents and relatives ,they are their role model .if they have this habit it may goes to their offspring also .

Escape and self medication:- when they are unhappy and they cannt find a healthy outlet for their frustration they may  find alcohol as a remedy as  tension reliever.

Lack of confidence:- to boost up their confidence especially In critical situation it can use it.

Misinformation:-inaccurate information from friends about alcohol and its feeling once it is consumed .so they temped to use and to know the feelings.

Other factors include social and cultural factors,family history,academic pressure,work and income ,life style, easy access to get alcohol from family itself family size and educational level and circumstances .