USA Today (6/11, Pager) reports that results of a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released today reveals that “underage drinking among all US residents from age 12 through 20 dropped 6.1%” over the years from “2002 to 2013.” During that same period of time, “underage binge drinking decreased 5.1%.” SAMHSA researchers “used data from the National Survey for Drug Use and Health, which measures drinking rates among those 12 and older,” in arriving at these conclusions.
The Washington Post (6/11, Gebelhoff) points out that “Federal and local governments have been encouraging parents to talk to their children about alcohol use at an early age.” The Post adds that “SAMHSA developed a campaign called ‘Talk. They Hear You,’ featuring a mobile app with interactive games to help parents prepare for conversations with their” kids. Frances M. Harding, director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, said, “Our target is to change social norms.” Harding added, “Have norms been changed? Absolutely.”
Related Links:
— “Underage drinking, binge boozing by minors is on the decline,” Tyler Pager, USA Today, June 11, 2015.