Preventing alcohol-related harm among Australian rural youth: investigating the 'social norms' approach. Briefing Paper no.1

Abstract

The Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies (TILES) will be publishing regular Briefing Papers on topics related to the Institute's research program. High risk drinking among young people is recognised as both a health and a community policing issue. As such, TILES and UDRH are planning to collaborate on an innovative research program aimed at preventing alcohol-related harm among Australian rural youth. In this, our first Briefing Paper, Dr Clarissa Cook of the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) at the University of Tasmania, discusses some key issues surrounding 'risky drinking' and the 'social norms' approach to addressing the problem. This work was also presented at the 8th National Rural Health Conference, Alice Springs, 10-13 March, 2005. RJ There is a sense of urgency surrounding a key health problem of our time: high-risk drinking.(1) Misuse of alcohol is responsible for much of the acute and chronic disease burden, and is associated with mental health problems, suicides, and motor vehicle and other accidents.(2-13) Risky drinking among young people, in particular, is widely regarded as an important public health issue not only because of the various harms incurred in the short term, but also because of the multitude of health, personal and social implications that are likely to affect people later in the life-course if such drinking patterns become entrenched.(14) Australian youth in rural and remote communities are of particular concern since they consume alcohol at more harmful levels than their metropolitan counterparts.(15)