New research from Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) and the University of Pittsburg Graduate School of Public Health reveals that the frequency of adolescent drinking in specific contexts are associated with specific alcohol-related problems. Importantly, these associations cannot be fully explained by heavier drinking in these contexts.
For this research, adolescents aged 12-16 years from California were surveyed with the following results:
- Dinking more frequently in outdoor spaces is associated with greater number of alcohol-related problems.
- Drinking more frequently in others’ homes and in fraternities/sororities is associated with a greater number of physical problems such as hangovers or feeling sick the next day.
- Drinking more frequently in outdoor spaces and in others’ homes is associated with greater number of personal problems such as missed school or work or getting into trouble with parents.
- Drinking more frequently in outdoor venues is associated with greater number of social problems such as an argument or a physical fight as well as DUIs.
Says lead author, Dr. Sharon-Lipperman-Kreda: “These results can be used to create and improve prevention interventions for adolescents – especially those efforts that target risks related to using alcohol in specific spaces.”
Source: Lipperman-Kreda, Sharon, Natalie Sumetsky, and Christina Mair. “Context-Specific Drinking Risks among Adolescents.” Substance Use & Misuse (2022): 1-4. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2022.2136494
