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

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.