Using in-depth interviews with 13 adolescents (16-19 years of age) who used alcohol and marijuana, this study examines the role that social and physical contexts play in adolescent decision-making about simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana. The research findings show that context matters in three ways: context characteristics inform decisions about simultaneous use, context […]
Media Releases
Youth Smoking and Vaping: Implications for Tobacco Control
Because most people who smoke cigarettes begin young, public health efforts to prevent tobacco use among youth are a priority. The increasing popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes,also called personal vaporizers, vape pens, e-cigars, e-hookah, vaping devices, mod systems or pod systems, raises concerns about normalizing cigarette smoking and perpetuating nicotine addiction. […]
Prevention of Alcohol Use in Older Teens: A Randomized Trial of an Online Family Prevention Program
A recently released publication in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, “Prevention of Alcohol Use in Older Teens: A Randomized Trial of an Online Family Prevention Program” reveals successful results for an on-line, family-based prevention program, Smart Choices 4 Teens, which is designed to reduce alcohol use among 16 and 17-year old teens. To test […]
Pathways of Nicotine Product Use: A Qualitative Study of Youth and Young Adults in California
Few studies have explored pathways of youth initiation of alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS), such as e-cigarettes. To learn more about his topic, a study team led by scholars at the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 49 Californian youth between 15-25 years who had […]
Youth Perspectives on Smoking and Vaping: Implications for Tobacco Control
Because most people who smoke cigarettes begin young, public health efforts to prevent tobacco use among youth are a priority. The increasing popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes,also called personal vaporizers, vape pens, e-cigars, e-hookah, vaping devices, mod systems or pod systems, raises concerns about normalizing cigarette smoking and perpetuating nicotine addiction. […]
Truth Telling about Tobacco and Nicotine
Debate among public health professionals over approaches to tobacco and nicotine regulation has intensified with the rise of vaping in the form of electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) and tobacco heat-not-burn products. A new article from researchers at the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation explores the contours of the debate […]
Fact Sheet: Environmental Approaches to Prevention of Public Health Harms Related to Alcohol
This Fact Sheet provides advocates and policymakers with the basics about what is meant by environmental approaches to prevention, how this approach differs from other approaches, and offers examples of environmental preventive interventions. What is the environmental approach to prevention to alcohol-related problems? Environmental approaches to prevention focus on changing the environment in which a […]
School-based Health Services and Educational Attainment: Findings from a National Longitudinal Study
School-based health centers provide students with comprehensive, convenient primary health care, and some evidence indicates that they also contribute to academic achievement among adolescents. However, very little research has investigated possible long-term effects of specific types of school-based health services (SBHS) on educational attainment in adulthood. A new article from the Prevention Research Center of […]
Drinking Contexts Associated with Early Onset of Alcohol Intoxication Among Adolescents
Early onset drinking, drinking and intoxication at an early age among adolescents, has been identified as a primary risk for later heavy drinking, alcohol problems, and alcohol dependence among youth and young adults. To prevent or delay early onset drinking, we must know more about the modifiable circumstances that enable these behaviors. New research by […]
Late Night Alcohol Service and Public Health Risks: Bar Morphing
Heavy drinking is associated with a range of public health harms, such as alcohol toxicity, auto crashes, and physical and sexual assaults. In contrast to efforts to reduce these harms, some business practices of restaurants and bars conflict with the goal of protecting public health. New research from the Prevention Research Center (PRC) of the […]
