A new study finds a significant decline in teen substance use, including alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. A mix of tighter laws and education programs targeted at schools and parents had contributed to this very positive development…

Author

John W. Toumbourou, Bosco Rowland (E-mail: bosco.rowland@deakin.edu.au), Matin Ghayour-Minaie, Shauna Sherker, George C. Patton, Joanne W. Williams

Citation

Toumbourou, J. W., Rowland, B., Ghayour-Minaie, M., Sherker, S., Patton, G. C. and Williams, J. W. (2018), Student survey trends in reported alcohol use and influencing factors in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev.. doi:10.1111/dar.12645


Source
Drug and Alcohol Review
Release date
12/01/2018

Student survey trends in reported alcohol use and influencing factors in Australia

Special Issue

Abstract

Introduction and Aims

There is a need to explain reported trends of reduced alcohol and drug (substance) use in school-aged children in Australia. This study used student survey data collected in the states of Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland to examine trends in substance use and associated influencing factors.

Design and Methods

Youth self-reports were examined from 11 cross-sectional surveys completed by 41 328 adolescents (average age 13.5 years, 52.5% female) across 109 Australian communities between 1999 and 2015. Multi-level modelling was used to identify trends in adolescent reports of lifetime alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use, adjusted for age, gender, social disadvantage and minority status. Trends in influencing factors were also examined that included: individual attitudes, and family, school and community environments. Multivariate analyses estimated the main contributors to alcohol use trends.

Results

Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use all fell significantly from 1999 to 2015. Higher levels of use were observed in Victoria compared to Western Australia or Queensland. Multivariate analyses identified reductions in favourable parent attitudes and lower availability of substances as direct contributors to reducing alcohol use trends. Indicators of school and family adjustment did not show similar trend reductions.

Discussion and Conclusions

Reductions in adolescent alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use from 1999 to 2015 were associated with similar reductions in parent favourable attitudes and availability of substances. It is plausible that a reduced tendency for parents and other adults to supply adolescent alcohol are implicated in the reductions in adolescent alcohol use observed across Australia.


Source Website: Wiley Online Library