PRIMARY PREVENTION OF ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH LITERATURE

The research evaluating the effects of programs and policies in reducing the incidence of alcohol problems is critically reviewed. Four types of preventive interventions are examined including: (1) policies affecting the physical, economic and social availability of alcohol (e.g. minimum legal drinking age, price and advertising of alcohol), (2) formal social controls on alcohol-related behavior (e.g. drinking-driving laws), (3) primary prevention programs (e.g., school-based alcohol education), and (4) environmental safety measures (e.g., automobile airbags). The research generally supports the efficacy of 3 alcohol-specific policies: raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21, increasing alcohol taxes and increasing the enforcement of drinking-driving laws. Also, research suggests that various environmental safety measures reduce the incidence of alcohol-related trauma. In contrast, little evidence currently exists to support the efficacy of primary prevention programs. However, a systems perspective of prevention suggests that prevention programs may become more efficacious after widespread adoption of prevention policies that lead to shifts in social norms regarding use of beverage alcohol.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0096882X
• Corporate Authors:

  Alcohol Research Documentation, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 969
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08854
• Authors:
  • Moskowitz, J M
• Publication Date: 1989-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 54-88
• Serial:
  • Journal of Studies on Alcohol
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Rutgers University, New Brunswick
  • ISSN: 0096-882X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advertising; Air bags; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Countermeasures; Law enforcement; Legal drinking age; Research; Safety programs; Taxation; Traffic safety education
• Old TRIS Terms: Alcohol education programs
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491003
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 820
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 28 1991 12:00AM