Program teaches alcohol abuse prevention
By Diane Raver, The Herald-Tribune
August 1, 2018
BATESVILLE, Indiana – The Coalition for a Drug-Free Batesville strives to promote and support all ages in the Batesville community in making healthy, responsible and legal choices around substance use.
One of the programs the group funds to help with its mission is EverFi’s AlcoholEdu® for High School. It “was first implemented in the Batesville community in 2014 as a result of Coalition for a Drug-Free Batesville,” reports CDFB director Kim Linkel.
“The freshmen at BHS complete this online course late in the first semester, and OA students complete … (it) as sophomores, either during the first or second semester, depending on their course schedules.
During the 2017-18 school year, 239 students at the two schools completed 398 hours of learning. Fifty-two percent of the participants were male, and 48 percent were female. According to the teens’ self-reported data, prior to taking the AlcoholEdu® for High School, 76 percent reported never having had a drink of alcohol.
Of the 24 percent who drank alcohol in the past, 89 percent revealed they did not drink (compared to the national average of 79 percent) in the two weeks prior to the course. Nine percent were light/moderate drinkers – having one to three drinks for females and one to four drinks for males on at least one occasion – which is well below the national average of 14 percent. Two percent noted they were heavy-episodic drinkers – four-plus drinks for females and five-plus drinks for males – compared to the national average of 7 percent.
In addition, 3 percent of local students used marijuana in the two weeks prior to the survey, compared to the 8 percent national average.
Teens indicated important or very important reasons to drink:
- To have a good time with friends, 28 percent;
- To celebrate, 17 percent;
- To feel happy, 13 percent; and
- To relieve stress, 9 percent.
Students revealed important or very important reasons not to drink:
- I don’t want to lose control, 81 percent;
- I don’t have to drink to have a good time, 78 percent;
- I have other things to do, 77 percent; and
- I’m going to drive, 77 percent.
According to survey results, “most students did not identify negative experiences resulting for their drinking. A minority of students who drink did report experiencing these consequences from drinking in the two weeks prior to taking the course”:
- Had a hangover, 20 percent;
- Forgot where they were or what they did, 20 percent;
- Felt sick to their stomach, 20 percent;
- Rode with a driver who had been drinking, 20 percent; and
- Passed out, 20 percent.
“Research shows a strong relationship between the age of first drink and problematic drinking. The earlier an individual starts to drink, the more likely he or she is to be a heavy, problematic drinker later in life.”
Among the 24 percent of area students who have had a drink, 13 percent were age 12 or younger when they first started drinking.
Where did the local teens obtain their alcohol?
- From a friend, 4 percent (compared to the national average of 24 percent);
- Get someone to buy it for them, 4 percent (17 percent);
- From another family member who is 21 or over, 4 percent (15 percent);
- From a parent or guardian, 4 percent (14 percent);
- From home without asking, 9 percent (11 percent);
- From a store without being carded, 0 percent (6 percent).
After completing the course, students reported this resource prepared them to:
- Avoid riding in a vehicle driven by someone who has been drinking, 88 percent;
- Stop a friend from driving drunk, 87 percent;
- Establish a plan ahead of time to make responsible decisions about drinking, 86 percent;
- Resist social pressure to drink alcohol, 85 percent; and
- Identify when someone has consumed too much alcohol, 78 percent.
Linkel says she was surprised about “how much knowledge the students truly gain from the course. Our students’ assessment scores increased significantly – 19 percent overall – between the pre- and post-assessment.” She is also impressed with “the amount of awareness students gain from the course on recognizing others who have consumed too much alcohol, encouraging a friend to not drive drunk and resisting peer pressure.”
“Alcohol abuse doesn’t just put students at risk, it threatens the ability of schools to achieve their educational objectives,” the director points out. “AlcoholEdu® for High School takes a public health approach to preventing alcohol abuse, incorporating evidence-based prevention methods to create a highly engaging student experience. Through this scalable online program, which has been proven to reduce negative consequences associated with underage drinking, high schools can reach all students with a consistent message and empower them to make safer and healthier decisions about alcohol. This course covers peer pressure, underage drinking laws, alcohol and the brain and body, bystander behaviors, values and goal-setting, challenging common myths and talking to parents.”
“As a coalition we strive to create a safer, healthier community, and by providing these types of programs to the youth, we are definitely sticking to our mission by creating awareness of the challenges we face and focus on changing the culture of the community,” Linkel adds.
The program is fully funded by the CDFB and implemented by staff at Batesvhille High School and Oldenburg Academy. “This is an amazing partnership that ensures all students in our community are receiving the exact same message during their high school years.”
Diane Raver can be contacted at diane.raver@batesvilleheraldtribune.com or 812-934-4343, Ext. 114.