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Dane Co. Youth and Drinking: What the Data Shows and What We Should Do About It

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:. Adolescence is a unique and powerful developmental period

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Dane Co. Youth and Drinking: What the Data Shows and What We Should Do About It

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  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

  2. Three considerations: • Adolescence is a unique and powerful developmental period • Alcohol use impacts teens differently than adults • There are multiple pathways to effective prevention and intervention

  3. The “Health Paradox” of AdolescenceSource: 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

  4. Primary causes of clinical problems and mortality during adolescence are related to difficulties with control of behavior and emotion

  5. Adolescent Neuroscience • New science • Insights into teen behaviors • Implications for parents, counselors, educators, policy makers

  6. 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!!

  7. Research: These areas are still developing during adolescence CEO: judgment, decision making, planning ahead Directs motivation amygdala Regulates emotion

  8. Teen BrainTeen Behavior • Limits to motivation: • Limits to emotional regulation: • Limits to judgments: • preferences for low effort, high excitement activities • moodiness, quick to anger • increased risk taking, decreased planning ahead

  9. Why should we be concerned about teen drinking? Alcohol use amplifies the vulnerabilities.

  10. 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 Analysis of Dane Co. youth Brian Koenig, Principal Investigator

  11. Teen drinking is associated with: • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication

  12. Of current high school drinkers, percentage who reported binge drinking: 77% 77% Source: DCYA (2005)

  13. Teen drinking is associated with: • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Involvement with other drugs

  14. Current drinking is strongly associated with past year drug use Source: DCYA (2005)

  15. Teen drinking is associated with: • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Involvement with other drug use • Risk taking

  16. Current drinking is strongly associated with current risk behaviors Source: DCYA (2005)

  17. Teen drinking is associated with: • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Involvement with other drug use • Risk taking • Risk for cognitive deficits

  18. Binge drinking and the teen brain 15 year old male non-drinker 15 year old male heavy drinker

  19. Teen drinking is associated with: • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Involvement with other drug use • Risk taking • Risk for cognitive deficits • School difficulties

  20. Current drinking corresponds with decreased school connection, attendance, and grades Source: DCYA (2005)

  21. Teen drinking is associated with: • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Involvement with other drug use • Risk taking • Risk for cognitive deficits • School difficulties • Co-occurring problems

  22. Drinking among HS students is linked to co-occurring problems Source: DCYA (2005) Any past year delinquency

  23. Teen drinking is associated with: • 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

  24. Percentages of Past Year Alcohol Problems among Adults Aged 21 or Older, by Age of First Use Source: SAMHSA (2005) Early age drinking increases future risk by 6 times Age Started Drinking

  25. The very same brain areas developing during adolescence are implicated in addiction

  26. 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

  27. What to do?Directions for this Coalition to consider….

  28. Selected Principles of Effective PreventionSource: 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, community-wide messages

  29. Five areas to consider: • Involve parents and families

  30. My parents think it’s wrong to drink alcohol (% strongly agree) AVE = 42% Source: DCYA (2005)

  31. My parents know what I’m doing after school (% very often) AVE = 54% Source: DCYA (2005)

  32. Five areas to consider: • Involve parents and families • Increase youth perception of risk for alcohol effects (demand) • Address alcohol accessibility (supply) • Address alcohol marketing to youth • Screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment (SBIRT) in “opportunistic” settings

  33. What does not work: • Education • Scare tactics • Messages to “drink responsibly” • Confrontational interventions

  34. Questions and Discussion

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