206373 A partnership for reducing alcohol-related injuries in one Midwestern community

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 8:48 AM

Brenda L. Rooney, PhD, MPH , Community and Preventive Care Services, Gundersen Lutheran Health System, La Crosse, WI
Keri Briel Frisch, MS , Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Catherine Kolkmeier, MS , La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium, La Crosse, WI
Tracy Herlitzke, MPH , Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) #4, West Salem, WI
Pat Ruda , Coulee Council on Addictions, La Crosse, WI
Al Bliss , La Crosse County Health Department, La Crosse, WI
Stephen W. Hargarten, MD, MPH , Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
     
Objectives: A Midwestern county suffered 8 alcohol-related drownings of college-aged men over a nine year span. Local universities, hospitals, a cooperative education agency, addiction specialists, and the county health department partnered with the regional Injury Research Center to develop a model county-wide strategic plan to change the culture of risky drinking among 12-24 year olds.

Methods: The partnership plan development had several elements: 1) the formation of a county-wide coalition which met monthly, 2) a burden of alcohol-related injury report that incorporated hospital discharge, medical examiner and police data, 3) an asset inventory of alcohol resources and policies 4) a review of evidence-based strategies for reducing at-risk alcohol use and abuse, and 5) introduction of the public health model for reducing alcohol-related injury and death.

Results: 1) The county-wide coalition generated and prioritized 53 ideas. 2) There were 14 alcohol-related deaths for 12-24 year olds during 2003-2007; 38% of all inpatient hospital stays for motor vehicle crashes were alcohol-related. 3) Community assets focused primarily on treatment of alcohol addiction and abuse rather than prevention. 4) 16 of 28 evidence-based strategies reviewed were considered locally feasible by the coalition.

Conclusions: The partnership plan has three goals: 1) work with municipalities to bring consistency to alcohol-related policing and enforcement, 2) work with local organizations to adopt best practices to reduce risky drinking behaviors, and 3) change social norms education and alternative activities for youth. Most identified objectives can be locally controlled: others will need support at the state level.

Learning Objectives:
o Describe the role of multidisciplinary community coalitions in reducing risky drinking behaviors. o Describe the process for the development of a county-wide strategic plan to reduce risky drinking behaviors and alcohol-related injury. o Discuss the role of community-academic partnerships in this process.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was instrumentally involved in the strategic direction of this work.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Addressing ATOD problems through Coalitions
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs