Risk and Health Communication in an Evolving Media Environment

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MEDIA LITERACY AND PARENT–ADOLESCENT COMMUNICATION ABOUT ALCOHOL IN MEDIA

Effects on Adolescent Alcohol Use

YoungJu Shin, Michelle Miller-Day, and Michael Hecht

Introduction

During the developmental period of adolescence, the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors dramatically increases (Griffin, Scheier, Botvin, & Diaz, 2000; Wong et al., 2006). A recent Monitoring the Future study (2015) reports that adolescent substance use in the United States drastically increases from 8th grade to 12th grade. In this national study, it is noted that among 8th grade students, alcohol (26 percent) is the most prevalent substance used, followed by illicit drugs (21 percent) and cigarettes (13 percent). When youth reach the 12th grade, lifetime alcohol, ...