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Urban and Rural Adolescents’ Points-of-Access for Alcohol and Tobacco

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol and tobacco access points among a sample of rural and urban youth. Through collaboration with four regional school districts, a local drug prevention coalition administered a survey to a sample of 445 youth representing 30 different communities in a central U.S. region. The survey items included demographics, 30-day use measures, and questions about points-of-access for alcohol and tobacco. Results showed no differences among points-of-access between urban and rural youth. Ability to obtain alcohol from family, peers, other non-peer youth, and other non-family adults (P < 0.05) were each statistically significant predictors of 30-day alcohol use. Ability to obtain tobacco from family, peers, other non-peer youth, other non-family adults, and self-purchase (P < 0.05) were statistically significant predictors of 30-day tobacco use. Access through peers was the strongest predictor for both 30-day alcohol and tobacco use. Determining the primary social points-of-access youth use to obtain alcohol and tobacco can assist in the development of appropriate community-level prevention strategies and policies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions the EPIC (Early Prevention Impacts Community) Coalition and the Southeast Prevention Resource Center.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Drug Free Communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA

    Ronald D. Williams Jr., Jeff M. Housman & Veronica Ray

  2. Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, 470 Russell Hall, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Jennifer L. Evans

  3. School of Human Services, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 210068, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    James M. Bishop

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  1. Ronald D. Williams Jr.
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Correspondence to Ronald D. Williams Jr..

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Williams, R.D., Housman, J.M., Evans, J.L. et al. Urban and Rural Adolescents’ Points-of-Access for Alcohol and Tobacco. J Community Health 43, 406–411 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0438-0

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