Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #96936

Chudley Werch, PhD¹, Edessa Jobli, MPH¹, Michele J. Moore, PhD², Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD³, and C. Hendricks Brown, PhD⁴. (1) Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, University of Florida, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216, (904) 281-0726, ejobli@hhp.ufl.edu, (2) Center for Drug Prevention Research, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224, (3) Department of Psychology, University of Maryland - Baltimore, 5401 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21228-5398, (4) Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of South Florida, MDC-56, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop and test a brief, experimental alcohol preventive intervention matched to the use of specific alcohol beverages among adolescents. Methods: A total of 232 high school students who drank within the last year participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental intervention or a minimal intervention control. Four-month post-intervention data are reported. Results: Overall MANCOVAs were significant (p's<.05) on risk factors (influenceability, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, and perceived peer prevalence) for three of six beverages (beer, wine and liquor), with a fourth, malt liquor, approaching significance (p=.06). These tests showed intervention adolescents experiencing less risk for alcohol use than control adolescents. In addition, while the overall MANCOVA for malt liquor use was not significant, univariate analyses were significant for 30-day frequency, F(1,195)=5.69, p=.01, and 30-day quantity of malt liquor use, F(1,195)=4.03, p=.04, with intervention adolescents showing less consumption than control adolescents. A post hoc analysis examining differential intervention effects using pre-intervention drug use as a factor (i.e., 30-day cigarette or marijuana use), showed a significant overall Factorial MANCOVA interaction, F(4,189)=6.90, p=.000, with drug using intervention adolescents consuming cigarettes and marijuana less frequently than drug using control adolescents at post-intervention. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest the brief, beverage-tailored intervention reduced certain risk factors mediating individual alcohol beverage use and consumption of malt liquor, four-months after intervention, and may have reduced the frequency of cigarette and marijuana use among those already using drugs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Restate the primary purpose of the study presented.
• List the main methods of the study.
• Describe the key findings from the study.
• Evaluate the importance of the study's findings to public health.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.