Facts about community events serving alcohol
Monday, November 19, 2007 8:40 AM PST
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E-mail this articleLongitudinal research by Dr. David Hawkins and Richard Catalano from the University of Washington indicates that there are four major areas of risk factors that put youth at risk for problem behaviors, including substance abuse and alcohol. The four major risk areas/domains are community, family, school, and individual/peer.
This research is a national model and also the required framework and expectations of the Longview Drug Free communities grant, Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition, Cowlitz County Community Network, Cowlitz County Drug Free Communities grant, Castle Rock Drug Free Communities grant, Healthy Youth Survey, county DASA prevention funds and the previously federally funded Cowlitz County Rural Gang grant, to name a few.
Of significance is the community risk factor titled "community laws and norms." Research indicates that if the community has favorable laws and norms towards the problem behavior (i.e., substance abuse, including alcohol), then that is a risk factor.
Specifically, as Hawkins and Catalano have indicated in their risk and protective factor research and in their "Communities That Care" model communities that have events such as beer gardens and/or other events serving alcohol where children and families are part of the community event is consider a risk factor.
Does Cowlitz County have statistically valid data that indicates that alcohol is a problem for youth? Yes, per the 2006 Cowlitz County "Healthy Youth Survey" administered to every school district in Cowlitz County. The survey data indicate that teen alcohol use by eighth- and 10th-grade youth is a problem and is above the state average. This data can be found at Askhys.net.
Preventing youth problem behaviors, such as substance abuse (including alcohol), requires a prevention framework that looks at all domains and provides a range of strategies ranging from public policy to effective parenting to comprehensive pro-social youth development programs. Prevention research strongly states that youth who experience fewer risk factors and more protective factors have less chances of developing youth problem behaviors, such as substance abuse, school drop out, delinquency, violence and/or teen pregnancy.
Research has shown that not allowing alcohol use at family based community events is considered an effective environmental strategy to help reduce alcohol use among teens. This is not the same as the strategy of prohibition.
Jennifer Leach is president of the Longview School Board.
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