Youth, Alcohol, and Social Policy

I • Epidemiology of Drinking Practices among Adolescents and Young Adults.- 1 Middle-Aged Alcoholics and Young Drinkers.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Two Alcohol Problem Populations.- 2.1. Alcoholics.- 2.2. Frequent Heavy Drinkers.- 3. Problem Rates in Young Adulthood and Middle Age.- 3.1. Problems Directly Attributable to Alcohol.- 3.2. Problems Indirectly Attributable to Alcohol.- 3.3. Do Frequent Heavy Drinkers Become Alcoholics?.- 4. Social Considerations and Policy Implications.- 5. Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 2 Patterns of Alcohol Consumption among the Young: High School, College, and General Population Studies.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Use of Alcohol among High School Students.- 2.1. Method.- 2.2. Results.- 3. Use of Alcohol among College Students.- 3.1. Method.- 3.2. Results.- 4. Use of Alcohol among Young Adults.- 4.1. Method.- 4.2. Results.- 5. Conclusions.- References.- 3 Alcohol Problems among Civilian Youth and Military Personnel.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Multiplicity of Alcohol Problems.- 3. Alcohol Consumption Patterns.- 4. Adverse Consequences of Alcohol Consumption.- 5. Alcohol Problems in Civilian and Military Contexts.- 6. Implication for Research and Policy.- References.- II • Theoretical Models of Drinking among Adolescents and Young Adults.- 4 Developmental Aspects of Drinking through the Young Adult Years.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Some Conceptual Distinctions.- 2.1. Issues of Continuity-Discontinuity in Developmental Processes.- 2.2. Issues of Behavioral Focus.- 2.3. Drinking-Specific versus Nondrinking-Specific Theories.- 2.4. Psychopharmacology and Developmental Explanations of Drinking Behavior.- 2.5. Variance.- 3. An Organizational Framework for Developmental Processes Related to the Acquisition and Maintenance of Drinking Behavior.- 4. Developmental Aspects of Drinking from Birth through the Young Adult Years.- 4.1. Introduction.- 4.2. Conception through Early Childhood.- 4.3. Middle Childhood through Adolescence.- 4.4. Into Young Adulthood and Beyond.- 5. Developmental Processes and Continuity-Discontinuity: Some Issues.- 5.1. Developmental Notions of Stages and Their Relevance to Continuity-Discontinuity Issues.- 5.2. Developmental and Nondevelopmental Typologies of Problem Drinking (Alcoholism) in Adulthood.- 5.3. Sex Differences and Developmental Course.- 6. Summary.- References.- 5 Ecological Factors in Drinking.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1. Case Histories.- 1.2. Synopsis.- 1.3. Perspectives on Drinking.- 2. The Objective Environment.- 2.1. Ecology and Alcohol.- 2.2. Ecology and Drinking.- 3. The Perceived Environment.- 4. Behavior Settings.- 5. Ecological Indicators.- 5.1. Adolescents.- 5.2. A Developmental Perspective.- 5.3. Young Adults.- 5.4. Ecology and Drinking.- 6. Ecology in Perspective.- References.- 6 Sex Roles and Adolescent Drinking.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Sex Roles and Male Adolescent Drinking.- 3. Sex Roles and Female Adolescent Drinking.- 4. Some Current Research on Sex Roles and Adolescent Drinking.- 4.1. Methods.- 4.2. Results.- 4.3. Discussion.- 5. Conclusions.- References.- III • Public Policy Implications of Drinking Problems among Youth.- 7 Priorities in Minimizing Alcohol Problems among Young People.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Public Policy Considerations.- 2.1. Models of Prevention.- 2.2. The Distribution Model: Reducing Per Capita Consumption.- 2.3. Sociocultural Approaches: Modifying Drinking Norms.- 2.4. Drinking-Age Laws.- 3. Alcohol Education in the Mass Media and Schools.- 3.1. Mass Media Programs.- 3.2. School-Related Alcohol Education.- 4. Advertising.- 5. Other Policy Activities Related to Youthful Drinking.- 6. Treatment of Youthful Alcohol Problems: Secondary and Tertiary Prevention.- 7. The Balance between Treatment and Preventive Priorities.- 8. Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 8 The Impact of Sociopolitical Systems on Teenage Alcohol Abuse.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Alienation.- 3. Availability of Alcoholic Beverages.- 4. The Drinking-Age Debate.- 5. Conclusion.- References.- 9 Toward National Policy for Health Education.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Empirical Approach to Policy.- 3. Policy Issue No. 1: The Level of Investment.- 4. Policy Issue No. 2: How Should the Investment in Health Education Be Channeled?.- 5. Policy Issue No. 3: For What Purposes Should Health Education Be Given Priority?.- 6. Policy Issue No. 4: By What Means of Influence?.- 7. Toward a More Empirical Health Education.- 8. The Needs for Research in Health Education.- 9. The Policy Issues for Research Training.- 10. Recommendations.- 10.1. Strengthening the Weak Links.- 10.2. Filling the Gaps.- 10.3. Extending the Centers of Excellence.- 11. Summary and Conclusions.- References.- IV • Strategies for Reducing Drinking Problems among Youth.- 10 Strategies for Reducing Drinking Problems among Youth: College Programs.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Need for College Programs.- 3. The Goals of Various Programs.- 3.1. Assumptions.- 3.2. Aims.- 3.3. Approaches.- 3.4. Illustrative Examples.- 4. The Educational Models and Techniques Employed.- 4.1. Theoretical Models.- 4.2. Educational Techniques.- 5. Examples of Various College Programs.- 5.1. Methods Focused on Individuals and Groups.- 5.2. Methods Focused on Organizations and the Institution.- 6. Evaluation of College Programs.- 6.1. Effort.- 6.2. Process.- 6.3. Effect.- 7. Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 11 U.S. Military Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Programs.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Nature of the Prevention Challenge.- 2.1. Size of the Military Services.- 2.2. Distribution of the Military Services.- 2.3. The Challenge.- 3. The Military Programs.- 3.1. The Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention.- 3.2. The Army Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Control Program.- 3.3. The Navy Alcoholism Prevention Program.- 3.4. The Air Force Alcohol Abuse Control Program.- 4. Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 12 Behavioral Strategies for Reducing Drinking among Young Adults.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Behavioral Formulation of Alcohol Abuse.- 3. Modifying Drinking Skills.- 3.1. Components of Responsible Drinking Skills.- 3.2. A Skills-Training Approach.- 3.3. Operant Approaches.- 3.4. Blood-Alcohol Discrimination Training.- 3.5. Aversive Procedures.- 4. Developing Healthier Habits.- 4.1. Relaxation and Meditation.- 4.2. Assertiveness Training.- 4.3. Exercise and Physical Activity.- 4.4. Self-Management Skills.- 5. Comprehensive Programs.- 6. Conclusions.- References.