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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jessica L. Muilenburg, PhD, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, 300 River Road, 311 Ramsey Center, Athens, GA 30602, 706-542-4965, jlm@uga.edu, William D. Johnson, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, Stuart Usdan, PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0311, and Lucy Annang, PhD, Department of Health Behavior, UAB School of Public Health, RPHB 227, 1530 3rd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022.

Although previous research has consistently shown an elevated prevalence of high school students driving after drinking (DD) and riding with a drinking driver (RWDD), little research has been done to investigate risk practices associated with impaired driving behaviors among younger adolescents. A survey of 281 students in a racially diverse Mississippi Delta area middle school was conducted. Almost half (45.3%) of these middle school youth reported RWDD at least once in the past 30 days, and 17% admitted to driving after drinking. A number of risky behaviors were associated with both riding with a drinking driver and drinking and driving. Based on multinomial logistic regression analysis, students who had ever smoked a cigarette [OR=2.7, CI (1.5, 4.8)], ever huffed [OR=2.4, (CI 1.2, 4.9)], had never used a seatbelt [OR=4.0, CI (1.1, 14.8)], and drove after drinking in the past 30 days [OR=7.8, CI (3.0, 20.1)] were more likely to have ridden with a drinking driver in the past 30 days. Those who where male [OR=5.0, CI (2.1, 11.5)], those who had ever smoked marijuana [OR=7.2, CI (3.25, 16.2)] or had ridden with a drinking driver in the past 30 days [OR=8.9, CI (3.4, 23.2)] were more likely to have also driven while drinking in the past 30 days. The high prevalence among adolescents of both RWDD, and DD, even though most were not legally old enough to drive, is alarming. Prevention programs focusing on impaired driving and its consequences should start in early adolescence.

Learning Objectives:

• (1) Determine the prevalence of impaired driving behaviors in younger adolescents.
• (2) Identify the risky behaviors that may differentiate between those who drive after drinking and those who ride with drinking drivers.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered