Alcohol Use Among Teens at Prom: A Social-Ecological Approach
This paper applies the social-ecological model to develop a multi-level intervention aimed at reducing alcohol use among high school teenagers during prom season. Drawing on statistics showing that prom-related car accidents account for a significant share of teen traffic fatalities each year, the paper examines individual, relationship, community, and societal factors that contribute to underage drinking. Proposed interventions include life skills training for students, parental education programs, school policy development, and community-level partnerships with religious institutions. The paper concludes with an evaluation framework comparing incident rates in intervention and control schools to assess program effectiveness.
- Introduction: Prom-night drunk driving statistics and case study
- Social-Ecological Model and Why It Was Selected: Rationale for choosing a multi-level framework
- Individual Level Factors and Interventions: Life skills training and personal risk factor reduction
- Relationship Level Factors and Interventions: Family influence and parental education programs
- Community and Societal Level Interventions: School policies, religious institutions, and campaigns
- Evaluation of the Intervention: Comparing incident rates across intervention and control schools
- Conclusion: Summary of multi-level intervention goals
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper grounds its argument in a concrete real-world case — the Donovan manslaughter sentencing — before broadening to population-level statistics, creating an emotionally resonant and evidence-backed opening.
- Each level of the social-ecological model is systematically addressed with both a problem diagnosis and a corresponding practical intervention, giving the paper a clear problem-solution structure throughout.
- The inclusion of a formal evaluation framework (comparing intervention and control schools) shows awareness of program accountability and research design, elevating the paper beyond a simple policy proposal.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates how to apply a theoretical framework — the social-ecological model — as an organizing scaffold for a public health intervention. Rather than describing the model abstractly, the author operationalizes each construct (individual, relationship, community, societal) with specific, citation-supported strategies, showing how theory directly informs practice.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a compelling case study and national statistics to establish urgency. It then introduces and justifies the social-ecological model before devoting a section to each of the model's four levels, moving from the most personal (individual) to the broadest (societal). An evaluation section follows, and a brief conclusion synthesizes the intervention's goals. This layered structure mirrors the model itself, reinforcing the paper's central argument through its organization.
Introduction
In September 2015, Austin Hall Donovan, then eighteen, was sentenced to an 18-month jail term by a Maryland court after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter that led to the deaths of his high school colleagues on prom night (George, 2015). The prosecutor's report indicated that Donovan was highly intoxicated at the time of the accident, recording a blood-alcohol level of 0.11 — higher than the 0.08 adult legal limit — when tested nearly three hours after the incident (George, 2015). Donovan, then 17, was reportedly driving at 119 mph in a residential area with a 35 mph speed limit when he lost control of his convertible and struck a light pole and a tree, killing his friend Shawn Gangloff (aged 15) and severely injuring 17-year-old Max Dechter (George, 2015). The case brought to light the serious concerns parents face when teenagers attend prom.
According to Law for Kids (2016), prom is one of the most exciting seasons in the life of most teenagers, but one that a good number of parents dread. Available data indicate that, on average, 2,000 teens die from motor vehicle accidents every year, with prom season (April, May, and June) accounting for 30 percent of these deaths (Law for Kids, 2016). Every year, over 300 teens die in car accidents during prom weekends (Wilson, 2018). In 2013, the prom season accounted for 27 percent of teen motor vehicle accidents, translating to 676 deaths (Law for Kids, 2016). This paper applies the constructs of the social-ecological model to develop an intervention aimed at reducing alcohol use among teens during prom.
Social-Ecological Model and Why It Was Selected
The social-ecological model explains the occurrence of public health issues through a multidimensional approach that considers the physical and social context of an individual or community (CDC, 2015). The model examines public health issues based on individual, relationship, community, and societal factors, and helps in developing effective interventions (CDC, 2015). It recognizes that an individual or community's health is shaped by interactions across individual, community, social, political, and physical environments that collectively determine social, mental, and physical well-being (CDC, 2015).
Teenage alcoholism is a complex subject. People engage in alcohol use for different reasons stemming from many different influences in their lives. Varied factors drive teenagers to drink — from parental influence to stress, peer pressure, and lack of knowledge about the costs of alcoholism. The social-ecological model is the most appropriate framework for studying teenage alcoholism because it accounts for the interplay of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors, allowing one to develop an intervention that operates across multiple levels. Studies have found that multicomponent interventions are the most effective approach to addressing college students' drinking behavior (Thadani et al., 2009).
References
Botvin, G. J., & Kantor, L. (2000). Preventing alcohol and tobacco use through life skills training. Alcohol Research & Health, 24(4), 250–257.
CDC. (2015). Models and frameworks for the practice of community engagement. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from
George, D. (2015). Teen driver in fatal alcohol-related crash is sentenced to 18 months in jail. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teen-driver-in-fatal-alcohol-related-crash-sentenced-to-18-months-in-jail/2015/09/10/5f871426-57be-11e5-b8c9-944725fcd3b9_story.html
Law for Kids. (2016). Dangers in driving on prom night. Retrieved from
Patterson, C., Ozdemir, M., & Erikson, C. (2011). Effects of a parental program for preventing underage drinking — The NGO program Strong and Clear. BMC Public Health, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-251
Stigler, M. H., Nausel, E., & Perry, C. (2011). School-based programs to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth. Alcohol Research and Health, 34(2), 157–162.
Thadani, V., Huchting, K., & LaBrie, J. (2009). Alcohol-related information in multi-component interventions and college students' drinking behavior. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 53(2), 31–51.
Wilson, R. (2018). Prom night dangers. Roberts Wilson. Retrieved from https://www.wegetjustice.com/prom-night-dangers/
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