Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons^™

Adolescent Alcohol Use: Do Risk And Protective Factors Explain Rural-Urban Differences? [Policy Brief], John A. Gale Ms, Jennifer D. Lenardson Mhs, David Lambert Phd, David Hartley Phd, Mha

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Adolescent alcohol use is a significant public health problem among U.S. adolescents. Past studies, including our own work, have found that rural adolescents were more likely to use alcohol than urban adolescents. Research suggests that protective factors, such as peer and parental disapproval, may be weaker among youth living in rural areas. This study examines the factors associated with adolescent alcohol use, whether they differ between rural and urban populations, and the extent to which these differences account for rural-urban variations in adolescent alcohol use. This knowledge is crucial to the development of rural-specific prevention strategies, targeted research on rural …