Session: Evidence for Modifiable Environmental Factors on Adolescent Alcohol and Tobacco Use (Society for Prevention Research 26th Annual Meeting)

Currently the world has the largest generation of adolescents (1.8 billion). In both developed and developing countries, adolescent drug and alcohol consumption exact a high cost on the social and health system. This symposium examines how modifiable structural factors are associated with adolescent drug and alcohol consumption in the USA and Australia. It also examines how systemic interventions can be used to reduce drug and alcohol consumption by the adolescent population. Three studies are presented: The first two studies used an ecological momentary assessment data collection process, using GPS and smartphone technology. The first examined how exposure to the number of tobacco outlets in a given area is related to use of tobacco and cannabis use amongst adolescents. The findings suggests that limiting the number of tobacco outlets can be a method to reduce adolescent tobacco and cannabis consumption. The second presentation examined links with number of alcohol outlets during time periods and alcohol consumption. While previous studies have examined this link, this study follows adolescents in real time and examines exposure to outlets with consumption. The findings indicate that spatial and temporal features of exposure to alcohol outlets are related to adolescent consumption. The final study examines, the extent to which alcohol is sold to minors in 3 states of Australia. It also shows how sales to minors can be substantially reduced by implementing a economical and efficient feedback process. Results of a large national community trial will be presented, follow up over a 6 and 12 month period will also be presented.