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California Data

Alcohol is the most frequently used substance by California youths. Although progress has been made in reducing overall prevalence in youth drinking rates, there are still too many youth drinking and putting themselves and others at risk. Study findings also indicate that youths who drink excessively also have numerous social and school-related problems. (See Consequences)

Despite best efforts towards prevention, binge drinking rates have remained fairly constant over a twelve year period (approximately 25% of 11th graders binge monthly).

According to WestEd’s 10th (2003-2004) Biennial California Student Survey (CSS) completed by 10,351 students in grades 7, 9, and 11, the following trends in youth drinking behavior were revealed:

Underage drinking stats

16.2% of 7th graders, 43.2% of 9th graders, and 64.8% of 11th graders have reported using alcohol.
Significant numbers of students reported having consumed alcohol within the past 6 months, including 26.3% of 7th graders, 48.7% of 9th graders, and 62.5% of 11th graders.
Any use of alcohol in the past 30 days was indicated at rates of 10% for 7th graders, 24.7% for 9th graders, and 37.1% for 11th graders.
High frequency users (those consuming alcohol in the past week) made up 2.1% of 7th graders, 6.9% of 9th graders, and 16.4% of 11th graders.

**“General Findings” from Underage Drinking in California report (page 2)**

The survey also provided data on school-related use of alcohol among California youth:

2.5% of 7th graders, 7.2% of 9th graders, and 8.0% of 11th graders reported alcohol use at school in the past 30 days.
2.7% of 7th graders, 12.3% of 9th graders, and 22.9% of 11th graders reported ever being drunk or high during school hours.

Underage binge drinking stats

3.7% of 7th graders, 11.5% of 9th graders, and 23.3% of 11th graders reported binge drinking in the past 30 days (consuming 5 drinks in a row).
1.3% of 7th graders, 5.1% of 9th graders, and 12.2% of 11th graders say they binge drink 3 or more days per month.

“Level of Involvement: Binge Drinking
[Past 30 days]” from Underage Drinking in California report (page 4)

The survey also found that the levels of involvement for drunkenness (over lifetime) and excessive alcohol use (drank five drinks in a row 3 days in the past 30 days; or was very drunk or sick three or more times, lifetime; or likes to drink to get drunk or feel the effects a lot) followed similar trends:

6.8% of 7th graders, 21.4% of 9th graders, and 40.6% of 11th graders reported drunkenness (being very drunk or sick) at any time over their lifetime.
4.4% of 7th graders, 14.3% of 9th graders, and 29.9% of 11th graders reported excessive alcohol use.

“Level of Involvement: EAU and Drunkenness” from Underage Drinking in California report (page 5)

For highlights of the 10th (2003-2004) Biennial California Student Survey (CSS), see the link below:

http://safestate.org/documents/CSS03MainFindings.pdf

References

Underage Drinking in California: California Town Hall Meetings. Community Prevention Institute. March, 2006.

Facts for Teens: Teens and Alcohol. National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center. 2002. http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/alcohol.asp. Accessed on [07/28/06]

Youth and Underage Drinking: An Overview. US Department of Health and Human Services. http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/RPO990/. [Accessed on 08/01/06]

Spear, L.P. Alcohol’s Effects on Adolescents. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2003.

L Underage Drinking in California: California Town Hall Meetings. Community Prevention Institute. March, 2006. http://www.adp.cahwnet.gov/Prevention/townhall/pdf/CA%20Underage%20Drinking%20Survey%20Data%20Report.pdf

L Austin, G. and R. Skager. 10th biennial California Student Survey Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use 2003-2004. WestEd. California’s Attorney General’s Office. http://safestate.org/documents/CSS03MainFindings.pdf [Accessed on 08/15/06]

Underage Drinking in California: California Town Hall Meetings. Community Prevention Institute. March, 2006.

According to a September 2004 analysis by J. Gfroerer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, calculated using the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

L Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Available at: www.cdc.gov/yrbss. Accessed on [07/27/06]

L Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, Bachman JG, and Schulenberg JE. 2006. Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2005. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/overview2005.pdf. Accessed on [07/31/06]

Office of Applied Studies. 2004. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. NSDUH Report: Alcohol Dependence or Abuse and Age at First Use. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Hingson, R.W., T Heeren, and M.R. Winter. Age at Drinking Onset and Alcohol Dependence. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 160:2006. www.archpediatrics.com. [Accessed on 07/14/06]

“Alcopops” Saturate Youth Market. Nutrition Health Review: The Consumers’ Medical Journal. 2003; 88:3.

MacLeod, A. Sweet drinks that lure kids pack a surprise—alcohol. Christian Science Monitor. 1997; 89(181).

Alcohol Concern Factsheet. Jan 2001. Available online at http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/files/20030818_151600_alcopops%20factsheet.pdf

Summary of Findings: What Teens and Adults are Saying about “Alcopops”. Alcohol Policies Project: Center for Science in the Public Interest; May 2001.

Stubblefield, B.C. & N. Singh. Studying influences of underage drinking in the United States: a content analytic study of alcohol advertisements in popular magazines. Journal of the Academy of Business and Economics. 2004.

Teenage girls targeted for sweet-flavored alcoholic beverages. American Medical Association. Dec. 16, 2004.

Layman, M. Alcopop drinks lure young adults. Spectator Online. Seattle University. Jan 21, 2005. http://www.spectator-online.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/21/41f0b8efb7d00

Youth Overexposed: Alcohol Advertising in Magazines, 2001 to 2003. The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth. Georgetown University; Apr 2005.

Jernigan, D.H., J. Ostroff, C. Ross, & J.A. O’Hara. Sex differences in adolescent exposure to alcohol advertising in magazines. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2004; 158:629-634.

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