evidence based environmental strategies reduce underage drinking and accidental death and injury...

Evidence Based Environmental Strategies Reduce Underage Drinking

and Accidental Death and Injury Among Youth

Overall Objectives

Participants will: Understand why it is important to take an

environmental approach to underage drinking

Get an overview of environmental strategies to reduce accidental death and injury among underage drinkers

What research based approaches have met with success in communities

Examine and discuss the relationship of policy and enforcement to alcohol prevention work

Learn Available resources and tools to support this work

Participants will: Understand why it is important to take an

environmental approach to underage drinking

Get an overview of environmental strategies to reduce accidental death and injury among underage drinkers

What research based approaches have met with success in communities

Examine and discuss the relationship of policy and enforcement to alcohol prevention work

Learn Available resources and tools to support this work

Follow up

Provide Technical Assistance

Deliver Training

Publish Supporting Documents

Develop Curriculum

Identify Promising Strategies

Underage Drinking Enforcement and Training Center (UDETC) background

ABOUT UDETC

ALCOHOL is the #1 drug problem in this country; and the #1 drug of choice for youth in the US and results in a host of physical, legal, economic, and social consequences for youth and the communities in which they live.

ALCOHOL is the #1 drug problem in this country; and the #1 drug of choice for youth in the US and results in a host of physical, legal, economic, and social consequences for youth and the communities in which they live.

FACT: The alcohol industry earns approximately $22 billion/year

from underage drinkers?

Why focus on Alcohol/Underage Drinking?

Underage Drinking Stats

Alcohol Kills more than 5,000 Youth Each Year in the US, which equals 13 youth each day.

Source: Why Do Adolescents Drink, What Are the Risks, and How Can Underage Drinking Be Prevented?, Number 67, January 2006,

NIAAA

Alcohol Kills more than 5,000 Youth Each Year in the US, which equals 13 youth each day.

Source: Why Do Adolescents Drink, What Are the Risks, and How Can Underage Drinking Be Prevented?, Number 67, January 2006,

NIAAA


Each day, more than 7,000 kids in the United States under age 16 take their first drink (IOM Report, 2004)

Each day, more than 7,000 kids in the United States under age 16 take their first drink (IOM Report, 2004)

Fact: 36% of eighth graders have consumed alcohol (Monitoring the Future, 2011)


Most kids drink to get drunk consuming four to five drinks at one time. (NIAAA, 2006)

Most kids drink to get drunk consuming four to five drinks at one time. (NIAAA, 2006)

Fact: In 2011, Monitoring The Future (MTF) data showed that 16% of 8th graders, and 54% percent of 12th graders report having been drunk at least once..

Underage drinking has many potential consequences

• Accidental falls, burns, and drowning

• Alcohol dependence

• Alcohol poisoning

• Brain damage• Cirrhosis of the

liver

• Accidental falls, burns, and drowning

• Alcohol dependence

• Alcohol poisoning

• Brain damage• Cirrhosis of the

liver

• Death• Impaired

driving• Pregnancy• Poly drug use• Poor school

performance (including learning impairment)

• Death• Impaired

driving• Pregnancy• Poly drug use• Poor school

performance (including learning impairment)

• Sexual assault

• STDs • Traffic

crashes• Truancy• Violence• Vandalism• Work

productivity loss

• Sexual assault

• STDs • Traffic

crashes• Truancy• Violence• Vandalism• Work

productivity loss

The HUMAN Costs of Underage Drinking(youth, ages 18-24) per year

• 1,700 college student deaths • 599,000 youth who are unintentionally injured• 696,000 youth who are assaulted• 97,000 sexual assaults• 400,000 incidents of unprotected sex• 2.1 million drive under the influence• 110,000 arrested for alcohol violations• 31% of college youth meet the criteria for

alcohol abuseSource: College Drinking: A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences. www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/facts/snapshot.aspx

• 1,700 college student deaths • 599,000 youth who are unintentionally injured• 696,000 youth who are assaulted• 97,000 sexual assaults• 400,000 incidents of unprotected sex• 2.1 million drive under the influence• 110,000 arrested for alcohol violations• 31% of college youth meet the criteria for

alcohol abuseSource: College Drinking: A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences. www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/facts/snapshot.aspx

What’s Different About Youth Drinking Today?

Before Today

What’s Different About Youth Drinking Today?

• Pooled Money• Meet in person or

contact by “land line”• Piled in 1 Car• Modified Paper

Licenses• 6 Pack of beer shared

by the group• Drinking in Fields

• Pooled Money• Meet in person or

contact by “land line”• Piled in 1 Car• Modified Paper

Licenses• 6 Pack of beer shared

by the group• Drinking in Fields

• Everybody’s Got $$• Cell phone and text

messaging• Meet at the Beer Store• Computerized Fake IDs• Kegs/Large Quantities

of Alcohol (Beer and liquor)

• Drink in Homes, Hotels, Limos, Remote locations

• Everybody’s Got $$• Cell phone and text

messaging• Meet at the Beer Store• Computerized Fake IDs• Kegs/Large Quantities

of Alcohol (Beer and liquor)

• Drink in Homes, Hotels, Limos, Remote locations

Before Today

Calls upon members of Society to recognize the severity of the problem of the underage drinking in the United States and reduce alcohol use by children and adolescents to protect them from the negative effects of underage drinking.

Information can be found at: www.surgeongeneral.gov

Calls upon members of Society to recognize the severity of the problem of the underage drinking in the United States and reduce alcohol use by children and adolescents to protect them from the negative effects of underage drinking.

Information can be found at: www.surgeongeneral.gov

The US Surgeon General issues a “Call to Action” to prevent underage drinking (March 6, 2007)

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/

2 Ways To Make Change

1. We can focus on what’s going on inside a person (i.e. feelings and individual choices).

1. We can focus on what’s going on inside a person (i.e. feelings and individual choices).

2. We can focus on what’s going on around a person (i.e. conditions in the environment).

2. We can focus on what’s going on around a person (i.e. conditions in the environment).

2 Types of Prevention Strategies

Individual Strategies Focus on behavior,

feelings, and skills• School-based education

programs• Counseling services• Incentives for healthy

behavior• Alternative activities for

youth

Individual Strategies Focus on behavior,

feelings, and skills• School-based education

programs• Counseling services• Incentives for healthy

behavior• Alternative activities for

youth

Environmental Strategies

Focus on causes and conditions

• Changing economic conditions• Cost & Availability

• Changing social conditions• What people think & how

they live• Changing media conditions

• What people read, watch, hear & see

• Changing political conditions• Who has power & influence


Focus on causes and conditions

• Changing economic conditions• Cost & Availability

• Changing social conditions• What people think & how

they live• Changing media conditions

• What people read, watch, hear & see

• Changing political conditions• Who has power & influence

IndividualSCHOOL

WORK

FAMILYCOMMUNITY

CHURCH

TV

MOVIES, MUSIC

FINANCESGOVERNMENT

FRIENDS

None of us lives in a vacuum; we are all affected by the conditions in our environment.

What are Environmental Strategies?

Strategies used to reduce problems

associated with the use of alcohol

through changes in the physical,

social, legal, and economic

environment

Strategies used to reduce problems

associated with the use of alcohol

through changes in the physical,

social, legal, and economic

environment

Basic Concepts of Environmental Change

• Establishes or changes community standards

• Policy-oriented• Addresses physical, social, legal, &

economic factors• Involves citizen participation, including

youth• Engages citizen action• Involves partnerships with law

enforcement, the legal system, community groups, and community leaders

• Establishes or changes community standards

• Policy-oriented• Addresses physical, social, legal, &

economic factors• Involves citizen participation, including

youth• Engages citizen action• Involves partnerships with law

enforcement, the legal system, community groups, and community leaders


What’s So Great About Them?

1. Effective and Efficient2. Immediate Results3. Long lasting effects4. Inherently Sustainable

What’s So Great About Them?

1. Effective and Efficient2. Immediate Results3. Long lasting effects4. Inherently Sustainable

What questions should we be asking?

• What alcohol laws/ordinances are in place or lacking?

• Are laws being consistently enforced?• Do advertising laws exist?• Is there comprehensive/collaborative

enforcement of existing laws?• Are there locations where youth can easily

obtain or know they can easily obtain alcohol?

• What policies/programs exist in local schools?

• What are the attitudes of parents and other adults in the community?

• What alcohol laws/ordinances are in place or lacking?

• Are laws being consistently enforced?• Do advertising laws exist?• Is there comprehensive/collaborative

enforcement of existing laws?• Are there locations where youth can easily

obtain or know they can easily obtain alcohol?

• What policies/programs exist in local schools?

• What are the attitudes of parents and other adults in the community?

Components of a Comprehensive Plan

Environmental strategies integrate three key components into a comprehensive plan to address underage drinking within the community as a multi-pronged approach that occurs on an on-

going basis.

Limitations on Access

Expressions of

Community Norms

Strategies Based in Schools

Prevention of Impaired Driving

Strategies


Expressions of

Community Norms

Strategies Based in Schools


Strategies

Policy

EnforcementPublic Support

PIRE

Prevention

Essential Elements of Effective Prevention of Alcohol Problems

EXAMPLE OF DATA GUIDED PREVENTION PLANNING USING LOGIC MODEL

Alcohol-related crash fatalities

Alcohol Poisoning

Violence/Crime

School Problems

Teen Pregnancy

Low or discount pricing of alcohol

Easy Retail Access to Alcohol for youth

Easy Social Access to Alcohol (parties, peers,

family)

Media Advocacy to Increase Community

Concern about Underage Drinking

Example: Logic Model for Reducing Underage Drinking

Restrictions on alcohol advertising in youth

markets

Social Norms accepting and/or encouraging youth drinking (peer, family, community)

Promotion of alcohol use (advertising, movies, music)

Low enforcement of alcohol laws

Social Event Monitoring and Enforcement

Bans on alcohol price promotion/happy hours

Underage drinking

Enforce underage alcohol laws

(compliance checks, sobriety checkpoints)

Causal Factors

Strategies(Examples)

Substance-Related

Consequences

SubstanceUse

Educate retailers to check ID and enforce underage sales law

Outcome-Based Logic Models

Represent complex systems of cause and effect Encourage planners and implementers to focus

on the most important and strongest paths for creating change

Can be constantly reviewed/revised to understand relationships, adapt to new circumstances, and accommodate success

Bring data and evidence to selecting key strategies for prevention planning

Represent complex systems of cause and effect Encourage planners and implementers to focus

on the most important and strongest paths for creating change

Can be constantly reviewed/revised to understand relationships, adapt to new circumstances, and accommodate success

Bring data and evidence to selecting key strategies for prevention planning

How can we use this outcomes based logic model for environmental strategies?


Expressions of

Community Norms

Strategies

Based in Schools


Strategies

UDETC recognizes four interlocking strategies to reduce underage drinking

STRATEGIES

Limitations on access help reduce alcohol availability to minors.

ACCESS


• Enforce minimum age purchase laws: -aimed at retailers - aimed at adults

- aimed at youth• Strengthen

minimum age purchase laws

• Reduce social availability

• Reduce overall community availability of alcohol

Limitations on Access: Commercial Availability

Vigorous use of compliance checks

Application of appropriate sanctions to violating merchants

Education of merchants regarding techniques and responsibilities (RBS Training)

Require alcohol sellers and servers to be at least 21 years old

Prohibit those under 21 from entering alcohol establishments

Vigorous use of compliance checks

Application of appropriate sanctions to violating merchants

Education of merchants regarding techniques and responsibilities (RBS Training)

Require alcohol sellers and servers to be at least 21 years old

Prohibit those under 21 from entering alcohol establishments


Elected officials in the City of Knoxville and Knox County have stepped up their support and commitment to reducing underage drinking. As a result, the Knox County Commission and the Knoxville City Council have passed ordinances related to mandatory photo ID checks when purchasing alcohol and increased compliance check operations. A coordinated media campaign related to underage drinking prevention was created and was instrumental in maintaining high levels of public support for law enforcement efforts on underage drinking.


Questions

What obstacles do epidemiologists and prevention professionals face in proving the case for reducing alcohol density?

How do scientists best make their case on issues that can be very political? What do you find is the best way to share data?

What obstacles do epidemiologists and prevention professionals face in proving the case for reducing alcohol density?

How do scientists best make their case on issues that can be very political? What do you find is the best way to share data?

Limitations on Access: Commercial Availability (continued)

Controls on hours of sale and drink specials

Controls on outlet location/density

Increase price throughexcise taxes

Make the manufacture or purchase of false/fraudulent identification a crime

Development of community support for enforcement operations

Controls on hours of sale and drink specials

Controls on outlet location/density

Increase price throughexcise taxes

Make the manufacture or purchase of false/fraudulent identification a crime

Development of community support for enforcement operations


Limitations on Access: Social Availability


Special enforcement campaigns to prevent parties where alcohol is served

Keg registration laws Enforcement of laws against buying

alcohol for minors (third-party transactions)

Enforcement of social host laws Source Investigations Development of community support

for enforcement operations


New York

The community of Long Beach successfully adopted the first social host ordinance in the State of New York. Collaborations between law enforcement and key community leaders were instrumental in the passage of the policy change which has since been adopted as a model to be used by other communities throughout the State of New York to aide communities in more effectively addressing youth alcohol access issues in social settings.

Tip: Use Comprehensive Community Interventions

Involve multiple departments of city government and private citizens

Use multiple program strategies– Community organizing and mobilization– Environmental policy change– Heightened enforcement – Media advocacy– Education

Remember:Remember:

Environmental (Not just educational!!!) Realistic Specific to the problem “Sellable” to the public Provides opportunities for

wide involvement Be strategic Tell your success stories

Environmental (Not just educational!!!) Realistic Specific to the problem “Sellable” to the public Provides opportunities for

wide involvement Be strategic Tell your success stories

Never doubt that a small, committed group of people with a good idea

can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

- Margaret Meade

Never doubt that a small, committed group of people with a good idea

can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

- Margaret Meade

National Resources

AIDA (American Indian Development Associates)

AMA (American Medical Association) Center for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws

Program at PIRE (Funded by OJJDP) CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of

America) CAMY (Center on Alcohol Marketing and

Youth) CDC (Centers for Disease Control) CSAP (Center for Substance Abuse

Prevention) CSPI (Center for Science in the Public

Interest) FACE: Truth and Clarity on Alcohol (Facing

Alcohol Concerns through Education)

AIDA (American Indian Development Associates)

AMA (American Medical Association) Center for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws

Program at PIRE (Funded by OJJDP) CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of

America) CAMY (Center on Alcohol Marketing and

Youth) CDC (Centers for Disease Control) CSAP (Center for Substance Abuse

Prevention) CSPI (Center for Science in the Public

Interest) FACE: Truth and Clarity on Alcohol (Facing

Alcohol Concerns through Education)

National Resources Continued

HEC (Higher Education Center) IACP (International Association of Chiefs of

Police) Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free

(Governor’s Spouses initiative) LCAT (Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco

Prevention) MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) Marin Institute Municode.org NCPC (National Crime Prevention Council) NCJFCJ (National Council on Juvenile and

Family Court Judges)

HEC (Higher Education Center) IACP (International Association of Chiefs of

Police) Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free

(Governor’s Spouses initiative) LCAT (Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco

Prevention) MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) Marin Institute Municode.org NCPC (National Crime Prevention Council) NCJFCJ (National Council on Juvenile and

Family Court Judges)


NJC (National Judicial College) NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration) NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism) NLLEA (National Liquor Law Enforcement

Association) OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention) ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy)PERF (Police Executive Research Forum)

NJC (National Judicial College) NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration) NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism) NLLEA (National Liquor Law Enforcement

Association) OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention) ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy)PERF (Police Executive Research Forum)


PIRE (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

RWJ (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Services Administration)

PIRE (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

RWJ (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Services Administration)

See our document, “Strategies to Reduce Underage Alcohol Use” for more information.

STRATEGIES

• Visit our website to download free of charge: www.udetc.org

Other Services Provided by the UDETC

Monthly Audio-teleconferences

Monthly Resource Alerts

Success Story Features

Research Information

Monthly Audio-teleconferences

Monthly Resource Alerts

Success Story Features

Research Information

Toll-free Technical Assistance Hotline

1-877-335-1287

Internet Website www.udetc.org

Web-based Alcohol Enforcement Databases

Toll-free Technical Assistance Hotline

1-877-335-1287

Internet Website www.udetc.org

Web-based Alcohol Enforcement Databases

Annual National Leadership Conference (August 10 to 12, Orlando, Florida)