Transcript Slide 1

Dane Co. Youth and Drinking:
What the Data Shows and What
We Should Do About It
Scott Caldwell & Connie Bettin
Presentation to the recently formed Coalition
Madison, WI
January 5, 2009
Three considerations:
1. Adolescence is a unique and powerful
developmental period
2. Alcohol use impacts teens differently
than adults
3. There are multiple pathways to
effective prevention and intervention
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The “Health Paradox” of Adolescence
Source: Dahl (2005)
On one hand…
Measures of most abilities show that
adolescence is the healthiest and
most resilient period of the lifespan
But on the other hand…
Clinical problems and mortality rates
increase 200 to 300 percent
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Primary causes of clinical
problems and mortality
during adolescence are
related to difficulties with
control of behavior and
emotion
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Adolescent Neuroscience
• New science
• Insights into teen
behaviors
• Implications for
parents, counselors,
educators, policy
makers
General findings:
• Adolescence is a period of unique
and profound brain maturation
• Remodeling of structure
• The brain maturation process is not
complete until about age 24!!
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Research: These areas are still
developing during adolescence
CEO: judgment, decision
making, planning ahead
Directs
motivation
amygdala
Regulates emotion
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Teen Brain
• Limits to motivation:
• Limits to emotional
regulation:
• Limits to judgments:
Teen Behavior
preferences for low
effort, high excitement
activities
moodiness, quick to
anger
increased risk taking,
decreased planning
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ahead
Why should we be concerned
about teen drinking?
Alcohol use amplifies the
vulnerabilities.
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Analysis of Dane Co. youth
Brian Koenig, Principal Investigator
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On-going survey of students 7th – 12th grade
189 items
23,542 students participated (66% HS)
Voluntary and anonymous
HS alcohol groups examined:
Abstainers (≈ 49%) = No past year drinking
vs.
Current drinkers (≈ 27%) = At least one drink
during the past 30 days
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Teen drinking is associated with:
• Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
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Of current high school drinkers,
percentage who reported binge drinking:
77%
Source: DCYA (2005)
Teen drinking is associated with:
• Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
• Involvement with other drugs
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Current drinking is strongly associated
Source: DCYA (2005)
with past year drug use
Teen drinking is associated with:
• Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
• Involvement with other drug use
• Risk taking
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Current drinking is strongly associated
with current risk behaviors Source: DCYA (2005)
Teen drinking is associated with:
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Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
Involvement with other drug use
Risk taking
Risk for cognitive deficits
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Binge drinking and the teen brain
15 year old male
non-drinker
15 year old male
heavy drinker
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Teen drinking is associated with:
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Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
Involvement with other drug use
Risk taking
Risk for cognitive deficits
School difficulties
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Current drinking corresponds with decreased
school connection, attendance, and grades
Source: DCYA (2005)
Teen drinking is associated with:
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Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
Involvement with other drug use
Risk taking
Risk for cognitive deficits
School difficulties
Co-occurring problems
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Drinking among HS students is
linked to co-occurring problems Source: DCYA (2005)
Any past year
delinquency
Teen drinking is associated with:
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Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
Involvement with other drug use
Risk taking
Risk for cognitive deficits
School difficulties
Co-occurring problems
Risk for long-term alcohol problems
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Percentages of Past Year Alcohol Problems
among Adults Aged 21 or Older, by Age of First
Early age drinking
Use
Source: SAMHSA (2005)
increases future
risk by 6 times
Age Started Drinking
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The very same brain areas
developing during adolescence
are implicated in addiction
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Summary of the Data
• Adolescents are not “mini adults”
• Teens are particularly vulnerable
to the harmful effects of alcohol
• Potential risks can be immediate
as well as long-term
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What to do?
Directions for this Coalition to
consider….
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Selected Principles of Effective Prevention
Source: NIDA (2003)
• Start early (preschool, K-6)
• Target key risk and protective
factors
• Target developmental transitions
• Utilize multiple strategies, across
multiple levels and settings
• Deliver consistent, communitywide messages
Five areas to consider:
1. Involve parents and families
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My parents think it’s wrong to
drink alcohol
(% strongly agree)
AVE = 42%
Source: DCYA (2005)
My parents know what I’m doing
after school
(% very often)
AVE = 54%
Source: DCYA (2005)
Five areas to consider:
1. Involve parents and families
2. Increase youth perception of risk for
alcohol effects (demand)
3. Address alcohol accessibility (supply)
4. Address alcohol marketing to youth
5. Screening, brief intervention, and
referral for treatment (SBIRT) in
“opportunistic” settings
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What does not work:
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Education
Scare tactics
Messages to “drink responsibly”
Confrontational interventions
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Questions and Discussion