Ensure the following is in Australian English: According to a 2022/2023 study conducted in Australia, 65% of secondary school students have consumed alcohol in their life (Scully et al., 2023). Alcohol, a depressive substance, has a greater influence on the developing teenage brain than on the adult brain, causing long-term alterations that result in cognitive deficits, memory problems, and mental health disorders (Lees et al., 2020). This presentation will examine the personal barriers and enablers that influence my relationship with alcohol. Furthermore, a collaborative harm reduction strategy will be suggested and assessed for its ability to reduce alcohol related damage among adolescents.
Numerous personal factors serve as barriers and enablers in my decision making process regarding alcohol consumption. My academic responsibilities often generate considerable stress and anxiety, which may entice me to consume alcohol. In a study conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (2018), 33% of boys and 49% of girls report feeling ‘very stressed’ in daily life. This data is concerning because stress is known to increase the risk of young individuals using alcohol (Sicher et al., 2022). Alcohol's temporary stress reducing properties may appeal to some groups of students, but associations with positive social groups can significantly curb my inclination to consume alcohol. Positive peer influences foster a sense of belonging and alleviate feelings of isolation or judgement, thus enhancing self esteem and reducing the propensity for alcohol misuse in the future. Exposure to alcohol, whether through familial consumption or societal influences also constitutes a barrier that significantly affects youth drinking behaviors (Fagan et al., 2024).
Media in the form of film and television form a staple part of my leisure activities. These pose a risk of fostering reckless behavior related to alcohol use. Furthermore, observing adults consume and discuss alcohol may inadvertently shape my views towards drinking, potentially encouraging similar behaviors (Bonnie et al., 2015). However, early education acts as a crucial facilitator in countering these influences by instilling awareness about the detrimental consequences of alcohol use from a young age. This preventative education has been demonstrated to deter alcohol consumption during adolescence and alleviate potential future risks (Fagan et al., 2024).
To mitigate alcohol-related harm and influence group behaviour, a strategic intervention targeting students at Mansfield State High School is proposed. This initiative involves leveraging social media platforms to disseminate compelling video content highlighting the adverse effects of alcohol, thereby instilling apprehension about alcohol use among teenagers. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok—which enjoy widespread popularity among young audiences—will be utilised to maximise campaign reach (Vogels et al., 2022). By capitalising on the influential and instantaneous nature of social media, this demand reduction strategy aims to decrease adolescent interest in alcohol consumption.
With recent statistics indicating that 97% of teenagers use social media (Smout et al., 2021), the campaign promises extensive visibility and educational impact, effectively reducing alcohol demand and associated dangers. However, while the potential benefits are considerable, the strategy is not without its limitations. The implementation of this campaign requires substantial time investment and financial resources, although it remains cost-effective compared to traditional advertising methods and . Ultimately, this initiative possesses the potential to further its reach a global audience of teenagers, significantly curbing alcohol misuse among this vulnerable group.

Australian Council for Educational Research. (2018). Report on 15 years of research sheds new light on the social-emotional wellbeing (SWEB) of Australian children and adolescents! https://www.acer.org/files/Infographic_YCDI-ACER_Wellbeing_2003-2017.pdf
Bonnie, R. J., Mary Ellen O'Connell, & Council, R. (2015). Alcohol in the Media: Drinking Portrayals, Alcohol Advertising, and Alcohol Consumption Among Youth. Nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37586/
Fagan, A. A., Hawkins, J. D., & Catalano, R. F. (2024). Engaging Communities to Prevent Underage Drinking. Alcohol Research & Health, 34(2), 167. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3860564/
Lees, B., Meredith, L. R., Kirkland, A. E., Bryant, B. E., & Squeglia, L. M. (2020). Effect of alcohol use on the adolescent brain and behavior. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 192(172906). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172906
Razzak, A. (2024, February 19). Deciphering Costs: Social Media vs. Traditional Marketing. Www.linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deciphering-costs-social-media-vs-traditional-marketing-razzak-njfdc
Scully, M., Koh, I., Bain, E., Wakefield, M., & Durkin, S. (2023). ASSAD 2022-2023: Australian secondary school students’ use of alcohol and other substances. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/australian-secondary-school-students-use-of-alcohol-and-other-substances-2022-2023.pdf
Sicher, A. R., Duerr, A., Starnes, W. D., & Crowley, N. A. (2022). Adolescent Alcohol and Stress Exposure Rewires Key Cortical Neurocircuitry. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.896880 

Smout, A., Chapman, C., Mather, M., Slade, T., Teesson, M., & Newton, N. (2021). It’s the Content That Counts: Longitudinal Associations between Social Media Use, Parental Monitoring, and Alcohol Use in an Australian Sample of Adolescents Aged 13 to 16 Years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7599), 7599. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147599

Vogels, E. A., Gelles-Watnick, R., & Massarat, N. (2022, August 10). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022. Pew Research Center; Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/