Northeast > Resources > Topic Specific > Underage Drinking > Underage drinking in Rhode Island

What does recent research data show about underage drinking in Rhode Island?

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and conducted by States’ Departments of Education (not all states conducted the YRBS), surveys high school students throughout the nation on topics relating to risky behaviors. The results of the Rhode Island 2003 YRBS showed the following: 76 percent of students had tried at least one drink in their lifetime, (compared to 79 percent in 2001); 45 percent of students reported currently drinking, (compared to 50 percent in 2001); 27 percent reported binge drinking, (compared to 31 percent in 2001).

Females reported higher rates of lifetime use of alcohol than males (77 percent versus 74 percent), and higher rates for current use (47 percent versus 42 percent). Males, however, reported higher rates of binge drinking than females (28 percent versus 25 percent).

Caucasian students reporting having had at least one drink in the lifetime was (77 percent), to be current drinkers (46 percent), and to binge drink (29 percent). Students who responded "other" under ethnicity reported (72 percent lifetime use, 49 current use, and 28 percent binge drinking). The other ethnic group reported was Hispanic students (79 percent lifetime use, 41 percent current use, and 26 percent binge drinking). Data for African American students was not available.

Source: Rhode Island 2003 YRBS Results. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/yrbss/SelQuestyear.asp?cat=3&desc=Alcohol%20and%20Other%20Drug%20Use&loc=RI.

Also see http://www.health.ri.gov/chic/statistics/yrbs.php

Other Related Resources:

• National underage drinking trends: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq53.cfm

• National underage drinking rate differences by geography, ethnicity, gender and age: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq52.cfm

Underage drinking rates by State:

• Connecticut: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq41.cfm
  
• Delaware: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq42.cfm
  
• Maine: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq43.cfm
  
• Maryland: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq44.cfm
  
• Massachusetts: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq45.cfm
  
• New Hampshire: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq46.cfm
  
• New Jersey: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq47.cfm
  
• New York: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq48.cfm
  
• Pennsylvania: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq49.cfm
  
• Vermont: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq51.cfm

Please contact the Northeast CAPT at capt@edc.org for more information.