Brief Underage Alcohol Use Screener Scores Predict Health Risk Behaviors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if adolescents’ scores on a 2-item underage alcohol use screener predict risky consequences of past-year alcohol use and other health risk behaviors in a nonclinical, school-based sample of adolescents. A predominantly minority sample of 756 middle and high school students completed in-school tablet-based surveys on past-year underage alcohol use and a range of health risk behaviors. Higher scores for self alcohol risk and peer alcohol risk were associated with higher risk of past-year riding with a drunk driver and past 90-day measures of cigarette use, marijuana use, unplanned sex, and unprotected intercourse. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Brief Alcohol Screener is a useful tool for school-based service providers, including school nurses, to identify and address the needs of adolescents at high risk of the development of alcohol use disorders, as well as a range of preventable health risk behaviors.

Using the NIAAA brief alcohol screener in social work practice for selected prevention targeting youth

“…With regard to health risk behaviors, Self Alcohol Risk scores were significantly associated with riding with an impaired driver, cigarette use, marijuana use and unplanned sex. Peer Alcohol Risk scores were significantly associated with riding with an impaired driver, cigarette use, marijuana use, unplanned sex, and unprotected intercourse (Tubman et al, 2019). These findings highlight the usefulness of the NIAAA Brief Alcohol Use Screener for social work training and practice, in that adolescents who screen positive for higher alcohol risk are also significantly more likely to report multiple problem behaviors that may be addressed via additional assessment and intervention services.…”