Search

Alcohol consumption by youth can produce negative health outcomes. This study identified correlates of lifetime alcohol use, recent alcohol use, and binge drinking among youth in sixth through 10th grade (n = 2,004) in Sarasota County, Fla. Results from a closed-ended, quantitative survey acknowledged a range of personal, social, and environmental influences. Breadth of these influences supports a need for multifaceted, community-based interventions for effective prevention of youth alcohol use. This study was unique because it represents population-specific research in which community partners are using the findings to develop community-specific social marketing interventions to prevent underage drinking and promote alternative behaviors.

Although youth involvement in health promotion efforts is not a new concept, projects that actively involve youths in planning research, collecting data, and making research design decisions are rare. This article describes the evaluation process and outcomes for a youth-directed data collection initiative. Eleven youth researchers conducted 112 personal in-depth interviews and 22 focus groups involving 206 youths in 5th through 12th grade. Youth researchers felt confident they could conduct focus groups and in-depth interviews and staff ratings of youths' effectiveness in moderating focus groups indicated they were successful in carrying out the qualitative research.

Despite a gradual overall decrease in alcohol consumption in the United States, alcohol remains the most widely used and abused drug in society. This study assessed lifetime and recent alcohol use in a cohort of fifth graders, and examined attitudes and beliefs held by these youth concerning alcohol. An instrument addressing alcohol use, other substance use, and other health-related problem behaviors was completed by 813 fifth graders in a west central Florida school district. Among respondents, 48.9% had "ever tried" alcohol, and 17.9% had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days (active drinkers). Significant differences in alcohol-related attitudes and beliefs were found according to current drinking status, gender, and race/ethnicity. Possible reasons for these differential findings are presented, and implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.