The risk and protective factors of alcohol consumption identified within a youth centre on the west coast of Newfoundland

Power, Ernest James (2018) The risk and protective factors of alcohol consumption identified within a youth centre on the west coast of Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The current study sought to explore why the at-risk youth of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, have been choosing to consume alcohol or not. This was accomplished by conducting semi-structured interviews, and compiling the common risk and protective factors associated with their use. Overall, participants indicated that they largely chose to consume alcohol either because they thought it was fun, it would help them cope with various problems, or because they were pressured into doing so. On the other hand, they also chose to avoid or consume less alcohol once they were educated on its dangers, kept busy, and had a safe place to go such as the local Community Youth Network. Furthermore, it is important to consider how participants described education in the current study, which was learning from both personal and vicarious experiences, in addition to being told the cold hard facts of alcohol consumption, in combination with a personal story, from a trusted adult, who communicated this information in a very passive way. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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