Work

A Spatial Analysis of Student Binge Drinking, Alcohol-Outlet Density, and Social Disadvantages

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This paper examined whether and how student binge drinking at the individual level was influenced by population disadvantages, community instability, alcohol-outlet density, and protective factors generated by community and school. METHODS: We used a dataset collected in 2002 by the Alabama Department of Mental Health, with additional materials generated by the 2000 Census and from the Alabama State Department of Education. School-catchments were employed as geographic units of analysis. The final sample comprised 78,138 public-school students in grades 6-12 who attended schools located in the 566 school-catchments. RESULTS: We hypothesized the presence of spatial processes that, once identified, would enhance understanding of student binge drinking. Our results confirmed that student binge drinking in a focal area was affected by that area's structural factors and also by individual-level risk and protective factors. The results did not support the hypothesized impact of surrounding areas' characteristics on student binge drinking in the focal area. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: The results of our study clearly indicate that both environment-based factors and individual-level risk and protective factors are important in explaining student binge drinking in Alabama.

Source: American Journal on Addictions

DOI: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.12022.x

Authors: Celia C. Lo, Joe Weber, Tyrone C. Cheng

Institution: University of Alabama

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism