Session: Evaluating National and State Policies to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse and Incarceration (Society for Prevention Research 24th Annual Meeting)

The goal of this symposia is to examine a number of major policy issues relevant to prevention science in Australia. The papers will explore policy and program factors influencing changing trends in rates of adolescent alcohol use, young adult substance use and a project aimed at encouraging prevention approaches to reduce antisocial behavior.

The first paper, “Reduced parental supply of alcohol to adolescents associated with reduced adolescent alcohol use in Australia between 1998 and 2013” examines trends in parental supply of alcohol to adolescents (12-17 years) and trends in rates of adolescent alcohol abstinence and heavy episodic drinking using nationally representative data spanning 15 years. Findings suggest the possibility that Australian efforts to discourage parental supply of alcohol to adolescents may partially account for reductions in adolescent alcohol use across Australia in the last decade.

The second paper, “Evaluating national and state policies to prevent antisocial behavior and incarceration” utilizes data from the International Youth Development Study (IYDS) in the state of Victoria, Australia. The paper describes rates of antisocial behavior from ages 10-25 years and examines effect sizes for associations between modifiable risk factors and subsequent antisocial behavior. The paper applies return-on-investment modelling to estimate the reduction in incarceration and crime rates in Victoria a $AUS150 million investment (20% of the planned prison budget) would have in a mix of five evidence-based prevention strategies. Recommendations will be made regarding cost-effective prevention approaches for antisocial behavior in Victoria.

The third paper, “Does exposure to abstinence and zero tolerance drug and alcohol policies in adolescence predict young adult abstinence?” uses IYDS data to cross-nationally compare alcohol and drug use patterns among young adults at age 25 years in Washington State, US and Victoria, Australia. The paper examines whether the previously found differences in drug use patterns in adolescence continued into young adulthood in the two states. Findings support the view that youth exposed to adolescent abstinence policies in Washington State maintained higher rates of abstinence as young adults; whereas Victorian adolescents exposed to harm-minimisation had higher rates of poly drug use as young adults.

At the conclusion of the presentations, the discussant will make summary statements and facilitate integrative discussion. The symposia seeks to encourage the cross-national analysis of prevention science applications in adolescence and young adulthood.