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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Susan Brutschy, BA, Applied Survey Research, PO Box 1927, Watsonville, CA 95077, 831-728-1356, susan@appliedsurveyresearch.org

Santa Cruz County has high rates of binge drinking among its youth, higher than the state of California. In 2004, 30% of Santa Cruz County high school juniors had binged one or more times in the last thirty days, as compared to 23% of high school juniors in the state of California. A local initiative called CURB (Community United to Reduce Bingeing) is working to address the alarming number of youth (ages 16-20) who are binge drinking.

To measure the impact of CURB, Applied Survey Research (ASR) piloted an innovative self-administered peer-to-peer youth survey, based on ASR's homeless surveys, which received an award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for best practices. This unique methodology of using peers to distribute surveys enables the collection of information from youth not reached through other survey efforts, such as the California Healthy Kids Survey and the University of California Safer Universities Survey. This underrepresented youth population includes homeless youth, youth not enrolled in school, and youth attending private schools. The survey collects information on youth's perceptions of drinking, their experiences related to binge drinking, and the consequences of binge drinking.

Youth are central to CURB, they participated in pilot testing and administration of the survey as well as interviews with alcohol merchants about limiting access of alcohol to minors, and a countywide media campaign.

This methodology was approved by ASR's Internal Review Board (IRB).

Data will be available in May 2006.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify the importance of youth peer-to-peer surveys for creating an environment in which youth are more likely to be forthcoming and honest.
• 2. Develop a youth survey methodology that may be applied to other communities.
• 3. Articulate the importance of youth involvement in conducting research with youth.

Keywords: Alcohol, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation