Citation

Doumas DM, Hausheer R, Esp S. J. Child Adolesc. Subst. Abuse 2016; 25(6): 591-597.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1067828X.2016.1171185

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Early initiation of alcohol use is associated with high-risk drinking and an increased risk of adult alcohol dependence. The current study tested age of drinking initiation as a moderator of the efficacy of a brief, Web-based intervention on frequency of drinking and alcohol-related consequences among ninth-grade students (N = 513). At a three-month follow-up, students in the intervention group reported a reduction in drinking frequency and alcohol-related consequences relative to those in the control group. In addition, age of drinking initiation was a significant moderator of intervention efficacy. Intervention effects were greatest among two groups of students--those who reported abstinence at baseline and those who initiated drinking at age 11 or younger.

RESULTS support a brief, Web-based intervention as a promising strategy for reducing frequency of drinking and the associated consequences as a prevention strategy for students who report no drinking history and as an intervention strategy for early initiators who are at the highest risk for developing alcohol-related problems.