Session: Prevention Systems in Reducing Alcohol Use Among Young People in Different Country Contexts: Randomized Control Trial of Community Interventions (Society for Prevention Research 22nd Annual Meeting)

SESSION INTRODUCTION: The goal of this symposium session is to present findings from two community randomized control trials in preventing and reducing adolescent alcohol use in two country contexts, the US and Australia, from two separate studies. Findings from an investigation of the effect of alcohol sale outlet density on alcohol consumption among Australian children will also be presented.

The first paper, “Environmental prevention strategies to reduce community alcohol problems: A randomized trial” reports initial findings from the evaluation of the California Strategic Prevention Framework/State Incentive Grant in 24 cities, with 12 cities randomly assigned to an intervention group and the other 12 to a control group. This community trial aims to strengthen local alcohol regulatory policies and increase the level of policy enforcement by working with county prevention coordinators, community coalitions and local enforcement agencies. Findings from the evaluation will shed light on the extent to which these changes have an impact on community alcohol problems.

The second paper, “The density of alcohol outlets and its relationship with adolescent consumption, parental supply and adolescent purchasing: A study of Australian children” examines whether increased density of outlets is associated with increased consumption, the parental supply of alcohol, and reported purchasing of alcohol. Findings suggest that limiting the density of alcohol outlets may be one strategy to lower rates of alcohol use and related problems among young people.

The third paper, “A randomized community trial to monitor and reduce alcohol sales to minors in three states of Australia” reports findings from an alcohol supply reduction intervention as part of a randomized community trial being implemented in the states of Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia. Greater reduction in underage sales in the 14 intervention communities was found, compared to the 14 matched control communities. Lower rates of alcohol use are also expected among adolescents in the intervention communities.    

At the conclusion of the presentations, the discussant will make summary statements and facilitate discussions between the presenters and the symposium attendees. Differences and similarities in developing and implementing community prevention systems will be discussed. Findings from different country contexts will contribute to the development of future community-based preventive effort.