title: High rates of alcohol consumption and related harm at schoolies week: a portal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate alcohol consumption, substance use and risky and harmful behaviour among young people attending 'schoolies' week in Victoria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breathalyser tests and brief surveys (n=558) measuring alcohol, energy drink and illicit drug use, and experience of aggressive incidents, alcohol-related injury and unprotected sex, were undertaken with young people attending schoolies week in Lorne and Torquay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Schoolies reported consuming a mean of 8.8 drinks in the current session, with a mean blood alcohol count (BAC) of 0.05; 18.3% recorded a BAC of greater than 0.08. One in six participants had consumed alcohol with energy drinks; 7.7% reported using illicit substances. Participants who co-consumed alcohol and energy drinks recorded a higher BAC than alcohol-only users. One in five participants had experienced alcohol-related harm at schoolies week, including aggressive incidents, alcohol-related injury and engagement in unprotected sex. Each alcoholic drink consumed increased the potential for involvement in aggressive incidents by 8% and alcohol-related accidents/injuries by 5%; illicit drug use was associated with six times the likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex with a non-partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excessive alcohol consumption and experience of related harms are common among young people attending schoolies week. Harm reduction initiatives targeting schoolies week should focus on the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, illicit drugs and the co-consumption of alcohol and energy drinks.
authors.affiliation: Turning Point, Eastern Health, Victoria; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lubman
authors.forename: Nic
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Droste
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pennay
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Australia; adolescents; alcohol; energy drinks; harms; school leavers; schoolies; youth