title: The Swedish six-community alcohol and drug prevention trial: effects on youth drinking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Local communities are increasingly targeted for alcohol and drug prevention campaigns. This study describes some of the key findings from the Swedish six-community alcohol and drug prevention trial (2003-2007) and lessons learned following an evaluation of the trial's effectiveness. The paper focuses mainly on changes in youth drinking and related harms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a pre- to post-intervention effect study comparing six trial communities that received added training and technical support with six control communities where regular prevention efforts were supported by national alcohol and drug action plans. A repeated, cross-sectional survey of 8092 youths aged 15-19 years assessed changes in alcohol consumption, binge drinking, perceived alcohol availability, access to alcohol via parents and adult attitudes towards the supply of alcohol to youths. National registry data were used to assess changes in hospital admissions due to alcohol intoxication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there were few significant improvements in the six trial communities compared with the control communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of program effects was largely attributable to the selection of strategies (in particular, school and parental programs) lacking evidence of effectiveness in reducing alcohol consumption at the aggregate level. Prevention programs based on efficacy studies need to be tested in community-based effectiveness trials before being disseminated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallgren
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andréasson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol consumption; community prevention; evaluation; youth drinking