Town Hall Meeting Underage Drinking Fact vs. Fiction Rob Lillis Evalumetrics Research

Partners for Prevention in Allegany County Drug Free Community Grant Drug Free Community Grant PPAC is a community coalition PPAC is a community coalition

Young People Drinking Alcohol “Underage Drinking” “Underage Drinking” Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws

Brief History of Drinking Age Laws When prohibition was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933, every state except New York and Louisiana established laws setting the minimum age for alcohol use at 21. When prohibition was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933, every state except New York and Louisiana established laws setting the minimum age for alcohol use at 21.

Brief History of Drinking Age Laws When the 26th amendment lowered the Federal voting age to 18 in 1971, most states lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18 and with it, the legal drinking age. When the 26th amendment lowered the Federal voting age to 18 in 1971, most states lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18 and with it, the legal drinking age.

Brief History of Drinking Age Laws  By 1976 the highway death rates for 18 to 21 year olds had skyrocketed, and states began to return the legal age to 21.  New York increased the legal drinking age from 18 to 19 in 1982 and from 19 to 21 in  All States have had 21 laws since 1988

Underage Drinking Part of Substance Abuse Issue Part of Substance Abuse Issue Illegal for those under 21 Illegal for those under 21 Causes a variety of problem Causes a variety of problem Physical Physical Social Social Legal Legal Developmental Developmental  NIAAA…“Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined.”

Underage Drinking Different than other type of Substance Abuse Issue Different than other type of Substance Abuse Issue Legal for those 21 or older Legal for those 21 or older Socially accepted (by some/for some) Socially accepted (by some/for some) Right of passage Right of passage Norms/Traditions Norms/Traditions Marketed by alcohol industry Marketed by alcohol industry

Marketing Alcohol Underage youth, ages 2 to 20, saw almost 33% more alcohol ads on television in 2004 than they did in Underage youth, ages 2 to 20, saw almost 33% more alcohol ads on television in 2004 than they did in Children, ages 2 to 11, saw ads per child per year. Children, ages 2 to 11, saw ads per child per year. Youth ages 12 to 20, saw ads per youth per year. Youth ages 12 to 20, saw ads per youth per year. P.M. Ippolito, "TV Advertising to Children, 1977 v. 2004" (PowerPoint presented at the FTC workshop on Marketing, Self-Regulation and Childhood Obesity, Washington, DC, July 14, 2005). Available at (cited 16 Dec 2005). P.M. Ippolito, "TV Advertising to Children, 1977 v. 2004" (PowerPoint presented at the FTC workshop on Marketing, Self-Regulation and Childhood Obesity, Washington, DC, July 14, 2005). Available at (cited 16 Dec 2005).

Subtle

Not-So-Subtle

Young People Are Physically Vulnerable  The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says that, “adolescents are vulnerable to alcohol– induced brain damage, which could contribute to poor performance at school or work. In addition, youthful drinking is associated with an increased likelihood of developing alcohol abuse or dependence later in life.”

Alcohol Fact or Fiction Everyone Drinks Everyone Drinks

Alcohol Facts Everyone Drinks Everyone Drinks One in three adults is a non-drinker One in three adults is a non-drinker Most drink less than 2 drinks/day Most drink less than 2 drinks/day Most never exceed four drinks on any occasion Most never exceed four drinks on any occasion Five percent of the population drinks more than half all alcohol sold Five percent of the population drinks more than half all alcohol sold

Alcohol Fact or Fiction Kids should be taught to drink responsibly Kids should be taught to drink responsibly

Alcohol Facts Kids should be taught to drink responsibly Kids should be taught to drink responsibly Responsible illegal behavior? Responsible illegal behavior? Children of parents with this attitude are three times more likely to develop an alcohol problem Children of parents with this attitude are three times more likely to develop an alcohol problem Children of parents with this attitude are three times more likely to develop other drug problems Children of parents with this attitude are three times more likely to develop other drug problems

Alcohol Facts Kids should be taught to drink responsibly Kids should be taught to drink responsibly Children of alcoholics have significant predisposition Children of alcoholics have significant predisposition One of seven people who drink will develop a problem One of seven people who drink will develop a problem Age of first drink is major predictor of problem drinking Age of first drink is major predictor of problem drinking

Alcohol Fact or Fiction The Forbidden Fruit Theory The Forbidden Fruit Theory Forbidding it will make them want to use it more Forbidding it will make them want to use it more

Alcohol Facts The Forbidden Fruit Theory The Forbidden Fruit Theory All evidence is to the opposite All evidence is to the opposite Law resulted in dramatic decreases in most alcohol related problems Law resulted in dramatic decreases in most alcohol related problems Look at adults Look at adults Alcohol is legal – public health disaster Alcohol is legal – public health disaster Illegal drugs are used at a fraction of the rate of alcohol Illegal drugs are used at a fraction of the rate of alcohol

Alcohol Facts A survey of Allegany County students conducted in 2007 by PPAC found: 10 percent of 8th graders said they consumed alcohol at least once in the month prior to the survey. 32 percent of 10th graders said they consumed alcohol at least once in the month prior to the survey.

Alcohol Facts

 Nearly one out of ten 10th grade students said they drank on five or more days a month.  More than 17 percent said they had consumed five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past month.

Alcohol Facts  Over 44 percent of 10th graders in the survey said alcohol was easy to get.

Alcohol Facts High school students beliefs about parent attitudes 93% of 10th graders believe their parents think young people using marijuana is “very wrong,” 92% believed their parents think smoking cigarettes is “very wrong” only 71% think their parents disapprove of them drinking alcohol.

Are they correct?

Alcohol Facts Parent Survey  When asked about their attitude toward their child’s use of marijuana or other illegal drugs, more than 95% of Allegany County parents said they hoped their child would “never use” these substances. However, more than a third of parents said their children should be allowed to drink or be taught to drink before they are 21. However, more than a third of parents said their children should be allowed to drink or be taught to drink before they are 21.

Alcohol Facts Remember… Children of parents with permissive attitudes about alcohol are three times more likely to develop an alcohol problem Children of parents with permissive attitudes about alcohol are three times more likely to develop an alcohol problem Children of parents with these attitudes are three times more likely to develop other drug problems Children of parents with these attitudes are three times more likely to develop other drug problems

What Can We Do? Supply Reduction Supply Reduction Retail outlets Retail outlets Parents Parents Expect/demand compliance Expect/demand compliance Make expectation clear Make expectation clear Know where, when and with whom Know where, when and with whom Control access Control access Set example Set example

What Can We Do? Demand Reduction Demand Reduction Perceived harm Perceived harm Social norms Social norms Risk and Protective Factors Risk and Protective Factors

Risk and Protective Factors Basis for prevention strategies and most funding programs. Basis for prevention strategies and most funding programs. Risk factors-predict substance abuse and other problems. Risk factors-predict substance abuse and other problems. Protective factors-predict lower chance of problems. Protective factors-predict lower chance of problems.

Major Risk and Protective Factors in Allegany County Sensation Seeking Sensation Seeking Community Disorganization Community Disorganization Lack of Opportunity for Prosocial Activity in the Family Lack of Opportunity for Prosocial Activity in the Family Lack of Rewards for Prosocial Involvement in the Community Lack of Rewards for Prosocial Involvement in the Community

Risk and Protective Factors In Allegany County Sensation Seeking – Sensation Seeking – 21.2% of Middle School Students 21.2% of Middle School Students 32.3% of High School Students 32.3% of High School Students Sensation Seekers- Sensation Seekers- Drink 2.5 times more Drink 2.5 times more More likely to use other drugs More likely to use other drugs More likely to be depressed More likely to be depressed More likely to injure themselves More likely to injure themselves

Science-based Prevention Proven to reduce risk factors Proven to reduce risk factors Proven to increase protective factors Proven to increase protective factors

Science-based Prevention Prevention Partners in Allegany County Prevention Partners in Allegany County Community Coalition Community Coalition Comprehensive Prevention Plan Comprehensive Prevention Plan Drug Free Community Grant Drug Free Community Grant Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ACASA) Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ACASA)

Get Involved Sign up for Sector Workgroup Sign up for Sector Workgroup Work with one of local groups Work with one of local groups

Thank You