Smoking and binge-drinking among adolescents, Ontario, Canada: Does the school neighbourhood matter?. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larsen, Kristian; To, Teresa; Irving, Hyacinth M.; Boak, Angela; Hamilton, Hayley A.; Mann, Robert E.; Schwartz, Robert; Faulkner, Guy E.J.
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 47(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: School neighbourhood -- Smoking -- Binge drinking -- Adolescents -- GIS; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.08.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines whether access to alcohol and tobacco around the school relates to higher or lower odds of cigarette smoking and binge-drinking among Ontario high school students. The 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey provides data on self-reported smoking and drinking, individual covariates and subjective socio-economic status for 6142 students (grades 9–12) in Ontario, Canada. Locations of schools were geocoded and 1.6 km network buffers defined the school neighbourhoods. Multi-level logistic regression examines individual and school neighbourhood factors with smoking and binge drinking as the dependent variable. Higher density of retail outlets increased the odds of smoking, but not the odds of binge-drinking. Older age, lower SES and being male increased the odds of smoking; while older age and being male also increased the odds of binge-drinking. Lower SES and higher population density decreased the odds of binge-drinking. Proximity to tobacco and alcohol outlets was not significant. Findings showed that a greater number of outlets in the school neighbourhood is significantly associated with higher odds of smoking, but not binge-drinking. School neighbourhood access to tobacco outlets should be considered when formulating policy interventions to reduce smoking for adolescents. Highlights: This study uses GIS to measure walking access, producing more accurate results. A representative dataset was used for all Ontario youth in public high schools. Findings suggest a higher density of tobacco outlets increases the odds of smoking. Access to alcohol around the school did not relate to the odds of binge drinking.