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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Margarita R. Moscoso-Alvarez, PhD¹, Julia Delgado, MSW², Hector Colón, PhD³, and Juan Reyes, EdD³. (1) Foundations Department, School of Education University of Puerto Rico, Family Medicine, Universidad Central Del Caribe, 1715 California Street, San Gerardo, Rio Piedras, PR 00926, 7877583582, mrmoscoso@hotmail.com, (2) Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration, Auxiliary Administration of Prevention and Promotion of Mental Health, 414 Barbosa Ave, San Juan, PR 00928-1414, (3) Family Medicine Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, Call Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-3062

Underage alcohol use has been of great concern for all health prevention professionals. During the past decade, several efforts have been made in Puerto Rico to respond in a responsible and proactive way to this cultural behavior. This presentation focus in the findings of a school survey “Consulta Juvenil” and the preventive strategies used to reduce the underage drinking. Consulta Juvenil is a study funded by MHAASA (Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration) and commissioned to UCC. The survey was first held in 1990. A total of six surveys have been conducted. A stratified Islandwide sample from 7th to 12th grade public and private schools students participated in the surveys. Alcohol was the most frequently used substance. A consistent increased in the ever use prevalence of alcohol was observed for three periods (1990, 58.5%, 1992, 66.2% and 1994, 73.1%). A steady declined was observed since 1997 (70.3%) to 2003 (56.9%). This pattern was observed in both males and females and in middle and high school. The most significant risk factors associated to alcohol used were: early initiation in substance use, favorable attitude toward substance use, involvement with peers that use drugs and having siblings that used drugs. To address the problem of underage drinking, several evidence-based policies and strategies were implemented, including universal and selective preventive interventions to reduce the risk factors and increase the protective factors. Findings from this study will have important implications for the development of preventive intervention programs for the Hispanic adolescent population.

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

(
• describe and understand the underage alcohol drinking behavior among the Puerto Rican adolescents´ (
• to learn and understand the value of research to reduce the risk factors and enhance the protective factors associated to underage alcohol used.

Keywords: Alcohol Use,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation