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Whelan J, Noller G, Ward RD. Harm reduction behaviours and harm experiences of people who use 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:67. [PMID: 38515184 PMCID: PMC10956294 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00979-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is drug of high prevalence in Aotearoa New Zealand and is the primary drug analysed by legal drug checking services. We aimed to address the gap in literature pertaining to MDMA-related harm reduction behaviour and harm experiences within the country. METHODS An online survey was used to assess the harm reduction behaviours (e.g., limiting consumption, planning use, seeking information) of people who use MDMA, in addition to their use of reagent testing and the major national drug checking and harm reduction service, KnowYourStuffNZ. RESULTS In total, 915 people completed the survey (60.7% females, aged 18-65, median = 24, IQR = 20-28). Frequency of various MDMA-related harm reduction behaviours differed, although these were carried out relatively frequently by most participants. Those who reported experiencing harm (physical, psychological, spiritual, social) from MDMA, or another drug presumed to be MDMA, reported less frequent harm reduction behaviours than non-harmed consumers. Reagent testing of MDMA had been conducted by 42.3% of the sample. Approximately 27% of the sample had used KnowYourStuffNZ services. Of KnowYourStuffNZ clients, 95.9% reported learning about harm reduction, and 53.3% reported changing their behaviour because of the service. Reasons for not using the KnowYourStuffNZ service were primarily lack of availability in local area (32.8%) or at relevant events (51.8%), and lack of concern with substance quality (29.8%). MDMA harm was reported by 14.4% of the sample, whilst reported harm was more common from consumption of presumably non-MDMA substances, self-reported as being mistaken for MDMA. Harm was primarily physical or psychological. Potential MDMA dependence was apparent in 6.9% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight potential targets for harm reduction education and interventions and emphasize the need for greater availability of readily accessible drug checking services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jai Whelan
- Deparment of Psychology, The University of Otago, William James Building, Level 1, 275 Leith Walk, Ōtepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Geoff Noller
- Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, Ōtepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ryan D Ward
- Deparment of Psychology, The University of Otago, William James Building, Level 1, 275 Leith Walk, Ōtepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand
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2
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Booth L, Miller M, Pettigrew S. The potential adverse effects of minors' exposure to alcohol-related stimuli via licenced venues: A narrative review. Drug Alcohol Rev 2024; 43:141-155. [PMID: 37934620 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
ISSUES Young people are particularly impressionable when it comes to forming expectations and attitudes around alcohol consumption. Any stimuli that normalise and foster positive expectations around alcohol use may increase the risk of underage alcohol consumption. Alcohol venues that market themselves as being appropriate 'family friendly' establishments for children risk exposing minors to environments that are saturated with alcohol-related stimuli. However, research examining how exposure to licenced venues affects underage people is very limited. The aim of this narrative review was to identify and synthesise relevant evidence to better understand how attending these venues might affect minors. APPROACH A narrative review of research published between January 2016 and November 2022 was conducted to investigate the potential effects on underage people of exposure to licenced venues and stimuli encountered in/around these venues. Examined stimuli included alcohol advertising, people consuming alcohol and alcohol outlets. KEY FINDINGS The reviewed literature indicates that the risk of alcohol-related harm among minors is likely to increase with greater exposure to alcohol venues due to the associated exposure to alcohol advertising, exposure to others consuming alcohol and higher outlet density. In combination, these factors are likely to normalise alcohol consumption for minors and create positive alcohol expectancies. IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION Venues serving alcohol should be discouraged from targeting families and parents should be warned about the risks associated with taking minors to venues where alcohol is sold and consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Booth
- The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mia Miller
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Simone Pettigrew
- The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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3
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Witkowski K, Lofaro RJ, Headley AM, Contreras S, Remington CL, Ganapati NE. Understanding problematic substance use among first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of law enforcement, fire, and EMS workers in the United States. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024; 123:104261. [PMID: 38006639 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND First responders have experienced increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to job-related pressures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about the factors associated with first responder drug and alcohol use during this time. METHODS We conducted a nationwide survey of first responders (n = 2801) to understand the relationship between work pressures, workplace support strategies, and problematic substance use during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed structural equation modeling to analyze whether burnout mediated these relationships. RESULTS Descriptive statistics showed that 60.8 % reported no concerns with substance use. While general workplace support strategies were negatively associated with problematic substance use, specific COVID-related strategies, such as providing compensation during quarantine, were positively associated with problematic substance use. Burnout fully mediated relationships between workplace support strategies and problematic substance use. Finally, providing spaces at work to decompress was negatively associated with problematic substance use and burnout. CONCLUSION Although work pressures increased burnout and problematic substance use among first responders, general workplace support strategies (e.g., decompression spaces) reduced problematic substance use while some COVID-related strategies (e.g. compensation during quarantine) increased problematic substance use. Policy interventions to address problematic substance use should focus on providing spaces for first responders to decompress at work, as well as implementing strategies (e.g., access to mental health services, time off) to reduce burnout. However, organizations should be mindful that not all interventions will have their intended impact and some interventions may unintentionally contribute to negative employee outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaila Witkowski
- Florida Atlantic University, Department of Public Administration, United States.
| | - Ryan J Lofaro
- Georgia Southern University, Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies, United States
| | | | - Santina Contreras
- University of Southern California, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis, United States
| | - Christa L Remington
- University of South Florida, Department of Public Administration, United States
| | - N Emel Ganapati
- Florida International University, Department of Public Policy and Administration, United States
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4
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Kelly C, Major E, Durcan M, O'Donovan D, McNamara Á. Adolescent binge drinking in the West of Ireland: associated risk and protective factors. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1064. [PMID: 37277777 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15577-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Adolescence is when alcohol use typically begins. Harmful patterns of alcohol consumption, such as binge drinking, may emerge during adolescence and become established. This study aimed to examine potential risk and protective factors for binge drinking among 15-16-year-old adolescents in the West of Ireland. METHODS This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of 4473 participants from the Planet Youth 2020 Survey. The outcome was ever binge drinking, defined as ever consumption of five or more drinks in a two-hour period or less. Independent variables were selected a priori following review of peer-reviewed literature and were grouped as individual, parents and family, peer group, school, leisure time and local community factors. Statistical analysis was completed using SPSS version 27. Differences in medians and means for continuous variables were examined using the Mann-Whitney U test and Independent Samples t-test respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine independent associations between potential risk and protective factors and ever binge drinking. A p-value of < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS The prevalence of ever binge drinking was 34.1%. Self-rated 'bad/very bad' mental health (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 1.61, 95% CI 1.26-2.06, p < 0.001), current cigarette use (aOR 4.06, 95% CI 3.01-5.47, p < 0.001) and current cannabis use (aOR 2.79, 95% CI 1.80-4.31, p < 0.001) increased odds of ever binge drinking. Parental supervision (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73-0.88, p < 0.001) and negative parental reaction to adolescent drunkenness (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.42-0.61, p < 0.001) reduced odds of ever binge drinking. Getting alcohol from parents increased odds of ever binge drinking (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.42-2.25, p < 0.001). Adolescents with friends who drink alcohol had almost five times higher odds of ever binge drinking (aOR 4.59, 95% CI 2.65-7.94, p < 0.001). Participating in team/club sports also increased odds of ever binge drinking (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.07-1.57, p = 0.008 for 1-4 times/week, aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.07-2.16, p = 0.020 for ≥ 5 times/week). CONCLUSION This study identifies individual and social environment factors associated with adolescent binge drinking in the West of Ireland. This can inform intersectoral action to protect adolescents from alcohol-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Kelly
- PricewaterhouseCoopers Ireland, 1 North Wall Quay, North Dock, Dublin 1, Ireland
- Department of Public Health West, Health Service Executive, Merlin Park, Galway, Ireland
| | - Emmet Major
- Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force, Galway Roscommon Education Training Board, Parkmore, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michéal Durcan
- Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force, Health Service Executive, Parkmore, Galway, Ireland
| | - Diarmuid O'Donovan
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University, Belfast, BT97BL, UK.
| | - Áine McNamara
- Department of Public Health West, Health Service Executive, Merlin Park, Galway, Ireland
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Dumbili EW. Decline in youth drinking in high-income settings: Implications for public health in low-income countries. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 114:103975. [PMID: 36871436 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Declining drinking among youth in many high-income countries has attracted scholarly attention and debates. Still, researchers are yet to globalize such research or examine its public health implications for low-resource settings. This commentary has two interrelated purposes. First, using evidence from Nigeria, it highlights how declining youth drinking in high-income countries may impact public health in low-income countries. Second, it highlights the necessity for research to examine youth drinking behaviours simultaneously worldwide. The declining drinking trends among young people in high-income countries have occurred simultaneously with global alcohol corporations being more aggressive in low-income countries like Nigeria. Relatedly, alcohol corporations may employ evidence regarding declines in drinking to argue against implementing stringent policies or other effective interventions in Nigeria (and other low-income settings), claiming their apparent success in the falling drinking trends in high-income settings. The article argues that research on the drinking decline among young people should be globalized because without commensurate attempts to examine their drinking behaviours/trends worldwide simultaneously, public and/or global health may be harmed for the reasons explored in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeka W Dumbili
- School of Sociology, College of Social Sciences and Law, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Belfield, Ireland.
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Livingston M, Callinan S, Pennay A, Yuen WS, Taylor N, Dietze P. Generational shifts in attitudes and beliefs about alcohol: An age-period-cohort approach. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 243:109755. [PMID: 36630806 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Population level alcohol consumption has declined markedly in Australia in the past two decades, with distinct generational patterns. The underlying reason for this shift remains unclear and there has been little work assessing how attitudes and beliefs about alcohol have shifted in population sub-groups. DESIGN AND METHODS Using seven waves of survey data spanning 19 years (2001-2019, n = 166,093 respondents aged 14 +), we assess age, time-period and birth cohort effects on trends in four measures of alcohol attitudes (disapproval of regular alcohol use, perceptions of safe drinking levels for men and women and perception that alcohol causes the most deaths of any drug in Australia). RESULTS There were steady increases in period effects for perceived safe drinking levels (especially for men) and belief that alcohol causes the most deaths. Disapproval of regular use has been stable at the population level, but there are marked cohort differences, with early and recent cohorts more likely than others to disapprove of regular alcohol use. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS These findings point to a broad lowering of perceived safe levels of drinking across the population alongside a sharp increase in disapproval of drinking for recent cohorts, potentially contributing to the reductions in drinking that have been reported in these cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Livingston
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Sarah Callinan
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Amy Pennay
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Wing See Yuen
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicholas Taylor
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia; School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Paul Dietze
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade? Soc Sci Med 2023; 317:115616. [PMID: 36563586 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In many high-income countries, the proportion of adolescents who smoke, drink, or engage in other risk behaviours has declined markedly over the past 25 years. We illustrate this behavioural shift by collating and presenting previously published data (1990-2019) on smoking, alcohol use, cannabis use, early sexual initiation and juvenile crime in Australia, England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the USA, also providing European averages where comparable data are available. Then we explore empirical evidence for and against hypothesised causes of these declines. Specifically, we explore whether the declines across risk behaviours can be considered 1) a 'unitary trend' caused by common underlying drivers; 2) separate trends with behaviour-specific causes; or 3) the result of a 'cascade' effect, with declines in one risk behaviour causing declines in others. We find the unitary trend hypothesis has theoretical and empirical support, and there is international evidence that decreasing unstructured face-to-face time with friends is a common underlying driver. Additionally, evidence suggests that behaviour-specific factors have played a role in the decline of tobacco smoking (e.g. decreasing adolescent approval of smoking, increasing strength of tobacco control policies) and drinking (e.g. more restrictive parental rules and attitudes toward adolescent drinking, decreasing ease of access to alcohol). Finally, declining tobacco and alcohol use may have suppressed adolescent cannabis use (and perhaps other risk behaviours), but evidence for such a cascade is equivocal. We conclude that the causal factors behind the great decline in adolescent risk behaviours are multiple. While broad contextual changes appear to have reduced the opportunities for risk behaviours in general, behaviour-specific factors have also played an important role in smoking and drinking declines, and 'knock-on' effect from these behavioural domains to others are possible. Many hypothesised explanations remain to be tested empirically.
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8
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Caluzzi G, Livingston M, Holmes J, MacLean S, Lubman D, Dietze P, Vashishtha R, Herring R, Pennay A. Declining drinking among adolescents: Are we seeing a denormalisation of drinking and a normalisation of non-drinking? Addiction 2022; 117:1204-1212. [PMID: 34159676 PMCID: PMC7614939 DOI: 10.1111/add.15611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the early 2000s, alcohol use among young people began to decline in many western countries, especially among adolescents (ages between 12-17 years old). These declines have continued steadily over the past two decades, against the backdrop of much smaller declines among the general population. ARGUMENT Hypotheses examining individual factors fail adequately to provide the necessary 'big picture' thinking needed to understand declines in adolescent drinking. We use the normalisation thesis to argue that there is strong international evidence for both processes of denormalisation of drinking and normalisation of non-drinking occurring for adolescents in many western countries. CONCLUSIONS Research on declining adolescent drinking provides evidence of both denormalisation of alcohol consumption and normalisation of non-drinking. This has implications for enabling policy environments more amenable to regulation and increasing the acceptability of non-drinking in social contexts. Normalisation theory (and its various interpretations) provides a useful multi-dimensional tool for understanding declines in adolescent drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Caluzzi
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Livingston
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - John Holmes
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah MacLean
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dan Lubman
- Turning Point, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul Dietze
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rakhi Vashishtha
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachel Herring
- Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Amy Pennay
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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Stevely AK, Vashishtha R, Fairbrother H, Fenton L, Henney M, Livingston M, Holmes J. Are changes in attitudes towards school associated with declining youth drinking? A multi-level analysis of 37 countries. Eur J Public Health 2022; 32:354-359. [PMID: 35333320 PMCID: PMC9159339 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in adolescents' attitudes towards school are a potential explanation for recent declines in young people's alcohol consumption. However, this has not been tested using multi-national survey data, which would permit stronger causal inferences by ruling out other country-specific explanations. This study, therefore, uses an international survey of schoolchildren to examine the associations between changing attitudes towards school and adolescent alcohol consumption. METHODS We used data from 247 325 15-year-olds across 37 countries participating in four waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (2001/02-2013/14). Attitudes towards school were assessed using two measures-self-reported pressure from schoolwork and whether respondents like school. Outcome measures were weekly alcohol consumption and having been drunk twice in one's lifetime. We used whole population and gender-specific hierarchical linear probability models to assess the relationship between attitudes and alcohol outcomes within countries over time. RESULTS Country-level changes over time in liking school were not associated with changes in alcohol consumption. However, a 10% increase in feeling pressured by schoolwork was associated with a 1.8% decline in drunkenness [95% confidence interval (CI): -3.2% to -0.3%] and weakly associated with a 1.7% decline in weekly drinking (95% CI: -3.6% to 0.2%). Among girls only, increases in feeling pressured by schoolwork were associated with a 2.1% decline in weekly drinking (95% CI: -3.7% to -0.6%) and a 2.4% decline in drunkenness (95% CI: -3.8% to -1.1%). CONCLUSION Changes in attitudes towards school may have played a minor role in the decline in alcohol consumption among adolescent girls only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail K Stevely
- Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Rakhi Vashishtha
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Laura Fenton
- Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Madeleine Henney
- Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Michael Livingston
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,National Drug Research Institute and enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Holmes
- Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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10
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Vashishtha R, Holmes J, Pennay A, Dietze PM, Livingston M. An examination of the role of changes in country-level leisure time internet use and computer gaming on adolescent drinking in 33 European countries. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 100:103508. [PMID: 34736131 PMCID: PMC7614941 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adolescent alcohol consumption has been declining in many high-income countries since the turn of this century. Research investigating the plausible explanations for these declines has been mostly based on individual-level studies, which are largely inconclusive. Changes in leisure time internet use and computer gaming (referred to in this article as 'computer activities') have been hypothesised to play a role in declining adolescent alcohol consumption at a country-level. The aim of this study was to examine the association between country-level changes over time in computer activities and adolescent drinking in 33 European countries. METHODS This is a multi-level repeated cross-national study examining the role of changes over time in country-level and individual-level computer activities on regular drinking. We utilised four waves of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs (ESPAD) from 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. At an individual-level the primary exposure of interest was daily engagement in computer activities and aggregated means were used to measure country-level daily computer activities in each included country. Data were analysed using three-level hierarchical linear probability methods. RESULTS In the fully adjusted model, for between individual effects, we found significant positive association between daily computer activities and regular drinking (β = 0.043, p-value <0.001 and 95% CI = 0.033-0.054). However, at a country-level, we did not find any association between within-country changes in daily computer activities and regular drinking (β = 0.031, p-value = 0.652 and 95% CI = -0.103-0.164. CONCLUSION Findings from this study suggest that broad cultural shifts towards increased computer-based activities among adolescents has played a little or no role in declining adolescent drinking. Future research should be directed towards examining other high-level cultural changes which may have influenced cross-national reductions in adolescent drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Vashishtha
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
| | - John Holmes
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Amy Pennay
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul M Dietze
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Australia
| | - Michael Livingston
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Australia; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Vashishtha R, Pennay A, Dietze PM, Livingston M. The Role of Parental Control and Support in Declining Adolescent Drinking: A Multi-Level Study Across 30 European Countries. Alcohol Alcohol 2022; 57:470-476. [PMID: 35015803 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent drinking has declined in many high-income countries since the early 2000s. It has been suggested that changing parenting practices may have contributed to the decline. However, previous studies investigating parenting have focused on single countries and have provided conflicting evidence. This study tested the association between changes in individual- and population-level parental control and parental support and changes in past month adolescent drinking. METHODS A total of 271,823 adolescents aged 15-16 years, from 30 European countries between 2003 and 2015 were included in this study. Our key independent variables were adolescent reports of parental control and parental support. Our outcome measure was a dichotomous measure of any alcohol use in the 30 days before the survey, referred as past month drinking. Aggregated measures of parenting variables were used to estimate between-country and within-country effects of parenting on adolescent drinking. Data were analysed using three-level hierarchical linear probability methods. RESULTS At the individual-level, we found a negative association between the two parental measures, i.e. parental control (β = -0.003 and 95% CI = -0.021 to 0.017) and parental support (β = -0.008 and 95% CI = -0.010 to 0.006) and past month drinking. This suggests adolescents whose parents exert higher control and provide more support tend to drink less. At a population level, we did not find any evidence of association on between-country and within-country parenting changes and past month drinking. CONCLUSIONS It is unlikely that changes in parental control or support at the population-level have contributed to the decline in drinking among adolescents in 30 European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Vashishtha
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3083, Australia.,Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Amy Pennay
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3083, Australia
| | - Paul M Dietze
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne 3004, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia.,Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Michael Livingston
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3083, Australia.,National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne 3004, Australia.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17176, Sweden
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12
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Adams J, Asiasiga L, Neville S. Justifications for heavy alcohol use among gender and sexually diverse people. Glob Public Health 2021; 17:2018-2033. [PMID: 34369856 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1957492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A range of research reports that many gender and sexually diverse people drink alcohol at heavy levels. This study used 24 focus groups to explore shared understandings of alcohol use among gender and sexually diverse people living in New Zealand. An inductive, data-driven thematic analysis was employed to identify explanations for heavy drinking among gender and sexually diverse people. Three key explanations were articulated: alcohol is needed for socialising; drinking helps coping with stress; alcohol and drug treatment services are inadequate. These results demonstrate justifications for heavy drinking in certain contexts. This behaviour runs counter to public health approaches and messages that highlight low-risk levels of drinking or not drinking as desirable. Public health interventions should continue to address alcohol use at a whole population level but should be supplemented by policy and interventions that take into account the sociocultural contexts and structural conditions that encourage drinking among gender and sexually diverse people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery Adams
- SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lanuola Asiasiga
- SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Neville
- Department of Nursing, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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