Menomonie High School parent perceptions of alcohol education

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive study is to identify the perceptions and values of the parents of students at Menomonie High School in Wisconsin regarding alcohol use and alcohol abuse prevention efforts for community young people. Alcohol consumption by high school students is a common source of concern for American parents and communities. Alcohol abuse by young and inexperienced drinkers often leads to a variety of negative consequences including, academic problems, impaired psychological development, injuries, and deaths. In an attempt to reduce the amount of alcohol consumption and the frequency of alcohol related negative consequences by this age group, many communities encourage the enforcement of alcohol age laws and provide alcohol abuse prevention education through the local school systems. These strategies have been only partially successful. One of the problems with current alcohol abuse prevention education is the lack of definitive research on effective educational methods and messages. At the present time, a range of approaches are used, most with an alcohol abstinence-focused message. Students are encouraged to “say no” to alcohol and scare tactics are incorporated in an attempt to dissuade alcohol use. The fact that 50% of high school students reported drinking alcohol and 31.5% reported drinking five or more drinks on one occasion during the last thirty days (Kann, et al. 2000), indicates that current educational approaches are not effective. Parental and community involvement appear to be critical components of successful alcohol abuse prevention programming for young people (Wechsler & Weitzman 1996; Oldenburg 1998; and Gaustad 1993). Drawing parents into the educational process may be one of the most important strategies for alcohol abuse prevention efforts. The University of Washington, Seattle, determined, over fifteen years of research, that alcohol safety skills training is an effective strategy for reducing the negative effects that often accompany heavy drinking by college students (Dimeff, Baer, Kivlahan & Marlatt, 1999). This strategy includes teaching safe-consumption techniques for those who choose to drink alcohol as well as skills for avoiding high-risk alcohol-related situations. In the Menomonie High School Parent Perceptions Study, parents were asked to share their knowledge and perceptions regarding the alcohol abuse prevention training their children received at the Menomonie High School and their perceptions regarding an alcohol safety skills training curriculum. Parents were asked to share their personal values regarding alcohol use. The Parent Perception survey brought parents into the alcohol abuse prevention process. The results of the study brought insights into what parents believe to be important characteristics of alcohol abuse prevention programming.