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Sex, alcohol and drugs? Young people's experience of Schoolies Week

Sex, alcohol and drugs? Young people's experience of Schoolies Week Abstract: The ‘Schooliesn’eek’ phenomenon attracts more than 10 000 school leavers to Surfers Paradise in November and December each year. In a survey of these young people ( N = 1796), from Queensland, New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria, about twothirds of the young men and one-third of the young women expected to have sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise. Of these, about 80 per cent expected to use condoms. Most expected to be drunk most nights or every night of their holidays and 27 per cent of young men and 17 per cent of young women expected to be ‘stoned’ most nights or every night. Most young men and a significant proportion of young women achieved these expectations, with respondents from KSW and Victoria being more likely to do so than Queensland residents. Over one-third of the sample had engaged in sexual intercourse prior to interview, and of these, two-thirds of young men and over half the young women always used condoms with casual partners. The rates for sexual intercourse with regular partners were slightly lower. Those who were inconsistent condom users on holiday were likely to have a history of inconsistent condom use and to have multiple casual partners and/or regular partners in addition to casual partners. It is recommended that the NSW and Victorian governments accept some responsibility for the behaviour of young people attending Schoolies Week. A coordinated intervention strategy is required because there are significant prior indicators of young people’s risk practices in Surfers Paradise during Schoolies Week. (Aust il’Z JPublic Health 1997; 21: 175-80) ACH year, thousands of young people congregate in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, to celebrate the end of their school careers. Generally known as ‘Schoolies M’eek’, this period extends for up to a month from late November through to the week before Christmas. In 1995, the ‘official’ Schoolies Week ran from 17 to 24 November and travel agents catering to this market offered packages that included arrivals from 18 November with departures through to 18 December.’,‘ A total of 15 000 young people was expected to congregate at Surfers Paradise during the period in 1995.’ The safety and wellbeing of young people engaging in Schoolies M’eek activities is of concern to local traders, the police and health senices. This concern has been expressed in a number of ways. First, local authorities organise a range of safe activities (including sporting activities and alcohol-free discos) for young people attending Schoolies Week. Second, brochures advertising Schoolies Week include messages of welcome from the Gold Coast City Council, the Queensland Health Authority and the Queensland Police Service.‘ These messages include warnings about the use of sunscreen, about sensible drinking, and specific warnings to young people about the penalties for under-age drinking and about not doing anything they may regret. In 1995 the warnings about under-age drinking were carried further, through the placement of full page adver- tisements in youth oriented magazines in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.’ In 1994 and 1995, the ‘Put a dinger on the donger’ campaign (South Coast Regional Health Authority, Southport, Queensland) targeted unsafe sex. The campaign involved the distribution of 10 000 condoms each year to accommodation venues available to young people. The strate<gyto make condoms available directly to young people was based in part on information from the young people themselves, who indicated that those engaging in unsafe sex were unlikely to make specific efforts to buy or otherwise obtain condoms (South Coast Regional Health Authority, Queensland) . There is concern and some evidence that young people engage in potentially health-damaging behaviours during Schoolies Week. We examined the basis for that concern. Our aims were fourfold: to document young people’s expectations of their holiday with respect to alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviour, and condom use; to examine demographic predictors of these expectations; to document the risk practices of young people during their holidays; and to examine predictors of risk taking in terms of demographic characteristics and young people’s previous risk taking. Dr Anthony Smith, Centi-e for the Stud) of Sexually Transmissible Diseases, La Trobe Unirersih, Locked Bag 12, Carlton South, \’ic 3053. Fax (03) 9284 9220. Method Proced uw Young people were approached in public areas in Surfers Paradise and invited to take part in the study. To be eligible to take part, they had to have have finished high school in 1995 and not be resident? of Surfers Paradise or the Gold Coast. Eligible participants completed a brief anonymous, self-adminisNO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 vot. 21 F SMITH AND ROSENTHAL tered questionnaire. Data were collected by four young people trained in psychology. Data collection began on 22 November 1995 and ceased on 9 December 1995. Sampling occurred in three discrete phases: 22 to 24 November to coincide with the first week of the schoolies period (the official Schoolies W’eek) ; 28 to 30 November to capture information about the second week of the period; and 4 to 9 December to examine the last phase of the schoolies period. For all periods of data collection except one (carried out in the first week by one interviewer), records were kept of refusals. A total of 1972 questionnaires was completed. The response rate was known for 1839 of these: 2659 eligible respondents were approached in obtaining the 1839 completed questionnaires, giving a response rate of 69.2 per cent. The study was approved by the La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee and by the Council of the City of the Gold Coast. M m s z iw y Data collected included sex, postcode of residence, age, type of school attended (government, independent or Catholic), and the number of days the young people had been in Surfers Paradise prior to in terview. Kespondents’ risk practices over the preceding six months were examined. Data were collected on the frequency of alcohol consumption (never; less than once a month; more than once a month but not every week; every week) and the amount usually consumed (1 or 2 drinks; 3 or 4 drinks; 5 to 8 drinks; more than 8 drinks). For the purposes of analysis, these two items ‘were combined into a composite measure of alcohol consumption (none, light, moderate, and heavy), which captured both frequency and amount consumed. The measures of frequency and amount usually consumed were strongly correlated ( r = 0.53). Light drinkers were those who consumed 1 to 4 drinks on each occasion but drank less than weekly or who drank weekly but drank no more than 2 drinks. Moderate drinkers were those consumed 5 or more drinks less than monthly, 5 to 8 drinks every month but not weekly or 3 to 4 drinks at least weekly. Heavy drinkers were those respondents who reported consuming more than 8 drinks at least monthly o r more than 5 drinks at least weekly. Sexual behaviour was examined in relation to both casual and regular partners. A casual partner was defined as ‘someone you have sex with once or infrequently’ and a regular partner as ‘someone with whom you have, or have had, an ongoing sexual relationship’. The number of both types of partner was sought (none; one; two; three o r more), the extent of condom use with those partners (alwavs; sometimes; never), how often they were drunk or ‘stoned’ when having sexual intercourse with those partners (always; sometimes; never). When condoms were not used, the form of contraception, if any, was determined (none; the pill; intrauterine contraceptive (IUCD); diaphragm; withdrawal). However, the questions relating to contraception did not relate to each specific sexual act but rather to all such acts during their time in Surfers Paradise. Thus, multiple responses were allowed. If respondents indicated that they had not had sexual intercourse in the previous six months, they were asked if they had ever had sexual intercourse. Young people’s expectations of their time in Surfers Paradise were examined. Data were sought on whether they expected to have sexual intercourse (yes or no) and if so, whether they expected to use condoms (yes or no). Respondents were asked whether they expected to get drunk or ‘stoned’ (no; some days/nights; most days/nights; every day/ night). Neither being drunk nor stoned was defined in the questionnaire. The examination of respondents’ sexual behaviour in the time they had been in Surfers Paradise was in the same form as the assessment of their behaviour in the previous six months. The sex of sexual partners was not ascertained, and whereas the majority of sexual activity can be assumed to be heterosexual, some homosexual activity is likely. Finally, respondents were asked how often they had been drunk and how often they had been stoned in their time in Surfers Paradise. A nn+s Contingency table analysis was used for two-way comparisons and logistic regression analysis for multivariate analysis of association. Results Of the 1972 respondents, eight were excluded because they were over 19 years of age. An additional 166 (8.5 per cent) were excluded because data were missing. All respondents were residents of Queensland (33.1 per cent), NSMT (45.4 per cent) or Victoria (21.5 per cent) except tcvo respondents, one each from Tasmania and Western Australia, who were excluded from the analysis. There were slightly more young women in the sample (52.7 per cent). Most in the sample were 17 or 18 years of age (44.2 per cent and 47.3 per cent respectively), with a much smaller proportion being 16 or 19 years of age (3.0 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively). Thus, 47.2 per cent of the sample were below the legal drinking age of 18 years. Of the sample. 42.4 per cent attended government schools, 36.1 per cent attended Catholic schools and 21.4 per cent attended independent schools. Students from government schools (68.2 per cent of the total secondary enrolment) were underrepresented, but the ratio of Catholic to independent school students was consistent with the national average, suggesting that neither of these sectors was overrepresented relative the other.4 The nature of the sample changed over the period of study, with most respondents being from Queensland in the first week, Victoria in the second week and NSM’ in the third week. The average age of respondents was lower in the first week because the modal age of Queensland school leavers is 17 years rather than 18 p a r s as is characteristic of Victoria and NSM: Also, most respondents from NSW had NO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 vot. 21 F SEX, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS? Table 1 : Young people's expectations of the holidays in Surfers Paradise Young men Expectation Expect to have sexual intercourse No Ys e Expect to use condoms if having sexual intercourse No Ys e Expect to get drunk No Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or night Expect to get stoned No Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or niqht n % Young women n Table 2: Results of stepwise logistic regression examining young people's expectations of their holidays in Surfers Paradise Variable Odds ratio CI Expect to engage in sexual intercourse Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Age Virgin Nonvirgin 1 .oo 0.24+ 1 .oo 0.64t 0.77 1.23' 1 .oo 11.73+ 0.19to 0.30 0.49to 0.84 0.56to 1.06 1.02to 1.48 8.88to 15.61 Expect to use condoms if having sexual intercourse 1 Queensland resident New South Wales resident 1.71t Victoria resident 1.89' Virgin 1 Nonvirgin 0.19t .oo 1.15t 2.54 o 1.14t03.13 0.06to 0.61 .oo Expect to get drunk most or all days or nights Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Attended government school Attended Catholic school Attended independent school Age 1 .oo OSO+ 0.40to 0.63 1.09to 1.96 1.14to 1.94 0.89to 1.45 1.15t02.10 1.12to 1.62 been in Surfers Paradise no more than four days whereas most respondents from Queensland and Victoria had been in Surfers Paradise five days or more. 1 .oo 1.46' l.49t 1 .oo 1.14 1.56t 1.35t Young peoplp 'v PxFectations The questionnaire explored young people's expectations of their holiday (Table 1). About two-thirds of young men but only one-third of young women indicated that they expected to engage in sexual = 214.2, 1 df, P<0.001). Among intercourse those who expected to engage in sexual intercourse, there was no association between sex and expectations that condoms would be used = 1.52, 1 df, P= 0.22). Young men were more likely to expect that they would be drunk or stoned on most or every day = 67.7, 3 df, of their holiday in Surfers Paradise P < 0.001 and x' = 37.3, 1 df, P < 0.001 respectively). Logistic regression was used to examine the differences in young people's expectations of their holidays. Explanatory variables were sex, age, state of residence, and type of school system attended. For the expectations concerning sexual intercourse and condom use, whether the respondent was a virgin was also included. In the examination of expectations relating to alcohol and drug use, response categories were reduced from four to two: none or some, and most or all. Patterns of associations are shown in Table 2. State of residence, age, sex and type of school attended were associated with all expectations. (x' Expect to get stoned most or all days or nights 1 .oo Young men Young women 0.62t Queensland resident 1 New South Wales resident l.5lt Victoria resident 1.71 Attended government school 1 .oo Attended Catholic school 0.68t Attended independent school 1.32 0.49to 0.78 1.12t02.03 1.30to 2.26 0.52to 0.89 0.99to 1.75 1.23to 1.78 .oo (x2 Age Note: (a) CI = 95% confidence interval. 1.48t (x' 'Pc 0.05, t P < 0.01, f P c 0.001 Young-people's alcohol- and drug-related risk practices Most young men and young women reported getting drunk most or every day or night of the holidav (75.2 per cent and 59.9 per cent respectively).Young men generally reported getting drunk more frequently = 56.8, 3 df, P < 0.001). Fewer respon- dents reported getting stoned but the sex differences were similar to those reported for alcohol use = 59.8,3 df, P < 0.001). Seventeen per cent of the 16-year-olds, 14.6 per cent of the 17-year-olds, 10.8 per cent of the 18-year-olds,and 17.1 per cent of the 19-year-oldshad not got drunk. Logistic regression was used to compare those who reported getting drunk most days or nights or every day or night with those who reported getting drunk less often. Explanatory variables were sex, age, state of residence, type of school system attended, and the composite measure of alcohol use in the previous six months. State of residence, previous drinking habits and sex yielded significant associations for both drinking and getting stoned. (x' (x' Young pPopk'Y S Q X U d risk practices A total of 704 respondents (39.2 per cent) indicated that thev had had sexual intercourse while in Surfers 1997 vot. 2 1 NO. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH F SMITH AND ROSENTHAL Table 3: Young people's drug-related, alcohol-related sexual behaviour while in Surfers Paradise Young men n % and ~~~ Table 4: Results of stepwise logistic regression examining young people's alcohol-related, drug-related and sexual risk practices while i n Surfers Paradise Variable Drunk mast or all nights Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Attended government school Attended Catholic school Attended independent school Nondrinker Light drinker Moderate drinker Heavy drinker Stoned most or all nights Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Age Nondrinker tight drinker Moderate drinker Heavy drinker Behaviour Days or nights drunk None Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or night Days or nights stoned None Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or night Had sexual intercourse with: No casuaI partners One casual partner Two or more casual partners Young women n % Odds ratio 1 .oo 0.65+ 1 .oo 1.07 1.46+ 1 .oo 1.31* l.81+ 1 .oo 5.43% 12.75+ 28.36+ 1 .oo 0.60+ 1 .oo 1.12 1.62t 1.24' 1 .oo CI 0.52 to 0.81 1 .I4 to 1.87 1 .O3 to 1.66 1.35 to 2.42 2.67 to 11.01 6.25 to 25.98 13.77 to 58.37 Had sexual intercourse with: No regular partners 585 One regular partner 197 Two or more regular partners 67 When having sexual intercourse with a casual partner: Did not always use condoms 103 Always used condoms 180 When having sexual intercourse with a regular partner: Did not always use condoms 105 Always used condoms 149 0.46 to 0.77 0.80 to 1.54 1.21 to 2.16 1.01 to 1.51 0.52 to 3.54 0.95 to 6.28 1.42 to 9.34 1.35 2.44 3.65' Paradise. Of those, 34.1 per cent had sex only with casual partners, 38.6 per cent only with regular partners and 27.3 per cent with both regular and casual partners. Young men were more likely than young women to report sexual intercourse with casual partners and sexual intercourse with regular partners (Table 3 ) . Of those having sexual intercourse with casual partners, almost 40 per cent indicated that they did not always use condoms and 45 per cent of those having sexual intercourse with regular partners indicated that they did not always use condoms. Therefore, of the total sample, 9.3 per cent were engaging in intercourse with casual partners without always using condoms and 11.1 per cent were doing so with regular partners. Also, 6.1 per cent of the sample were having sexual intercourse with casual partners and with regular partners but not always using condoms. Always using condoms with regular or casual partners while in Surfers Paradise was not significantly associated with the sex of the respondent, age, type of school attended, being drunk most or all nights or with being stoned most or all nights. Also, those having sexual intercourse for the first time were no less likelv to use condoms than their more experienced peers. Logistic regression was used to examine differences between those who had sexual intercourse Had sexual intercourse with a casual partner 1 .oo Young men Young women 0.63+ Days in Surfers Paradise 1.08t prior to interview Did not expect sexual intercourse 1 while in Surfers Paradise Expected sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise 4.96$ Virgin 1 .oo Nonvirgin 7.12% 0.48 to 0.81 1.03 to 1.14 .oo 3.65 to 6.73 4.29 to 1 1.82 Had sexual intercourse with a regular partner Young men 1 .oo Young women 1.43' Days in Surfers Paradise prior 1.06' to interview Did not expect sexual intercourse 1 while in Surfers Paradise Expected sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise 9.26+ Virgin 1 .oo Nonvirain 35.67+ " 1.09 to 1.87 1.01 to 1.12 .oo 6.63 to 12.92 13.12 to 96.93 Note: (a] CI = 95% confidence interval ' P < 0.05, t P < 0.01, + P c 0.001 with a casual partner and those who did not, and between those who had sexual intercourse with a regular partner and those who did not (Table 4). Explanatory variables were sex, age, state of residence, type of school system attended, days spent in Surfers Paradise prior to inteniew, whether they had expected to have sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise, and whether- they were virgins. For both AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 vot. 21 NO 2 F SEX, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS? casual and regular partners, sex, length of time in Surfers Paradise, expectations and virginity status yielded significant associations. Table 5: Results o stepwise logistic regression examining f young people's condom use with casual and regular sexual partners while in Surfers Paradise Variable Odds ratio CI Always used condoms with casual partners Young men 1 .oo Young women 0.58' Always used condoms with casual partners in prior 6 months Did not always use condoms with casual partners in prior 6 months No sexual intercourse with casual partners in prior 6 months One or no casual sexual partners in Surfers Paradise Two or more casual sexual partners in Surfers Paradise 1 .oo 1.01 to 2.94 0.18% 0.08% 1 .oo 0.08 to 0.38 0.04 to 0.1 5 O.45t 0.26 to 0.77 Always used condoms with regular partners in Surfers Paradise 1 .oo Did not always use condoms with regular partners in Surfers Paradise 10.24) No sexual intercourse with regular 1.10 partners in Surfers Paradise Expected to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to have sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise 0.10 to 0.56 0.56 to 2.15 .oo 0.22 to 0.88 0.16 to 0.83 0.44t 0.37' Always used condoms with regular partners Always used condoms with casual 1 .oo partners in Surfers Paradise Did not always use condoms with casual partners in Surfers Paradise 0.18% No sexual intercourse with casual partners in Surfers Paradise 0.54 Always used condoms with regular partners in prior 6 months Did not lways use condoms with regular partners in prior 6 months No sexual intercourse with regular partners in prior 6 months Expected to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to have sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Note: (a) CI = 95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.43 0.27 to 1.08 1 .oo 0.08% 0.26' 0.04 to 0.14 Logistic regression was used to explore further the patterns of condom use with casual and regular partners by comparing consistent with inconsistent users (Table 5). The following variables were entered in addition to those used in the earlier logistic regression: whether respondents had had two or more casual partners, whether they had had two or more regular partners, number of nights they had been drunk while in Surfers Paradise, number of nights they had been stoned while in Surfers Paradise, number of occasions when they had been drunk or stoned while having sexual intercourse with regular partners and with casual partners in Surfers Paradise, extent of condom use when having sexual intercourse with casual partners and with regular partners in the prior six months and, in the case of condom use with casual partners, whether they had had sexual intercourse with a regular partner in Surfers Paradise and had used condoms. In the analysis of condom use with regular partners, the equivalent variable for casual partners while in Surfers Paradise was used. This latter measure of current condom use. together with previous use and expectations, was significantly associated with condom use in Surfers Paradise. When condonis were not used with casual partners, no form of contraception was used in 28.4 per cent of cases, the oral contraceptive pill was used in 34.3 per cent, the IUCD in 2.4 per cent, the diaphragm in 1.2 per cent and withdrawal in 20.7 per cent. The comparable rates when condoms were not used with regular partners were 16.1 per cent, 52.6 per cent, 1.4 per cent, 0.9 per cent and 19.9 per cent respectively. The respondent was unsure if any form of contraceptive was used in 20.1 per cent and 9.3 per cent of the instances of unprotected intercourse with casual and regular partners respectively. Significant sex differences were observed with respect to the use of the pill and being unsure with casual partners, with 24.0 per cent of young men and 50.8 per cent of young women reporting the use of the pill and 29.8 per cent of young men and 4.6 per cent of young women reporting being unsure. Comparable differences with regular partners were 42.9 per cent of young men and 63.6 per cent of young women reporting use of the pill and 16.1 per cent of young men and 2.0 per cent of young women reporting being unsure. However, the questions about other forms of contraception related to the total number of occasions the respondent had had sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise, and thus, multiple responses were allowable. Discussion While young people may travel to Surfers Paradise with the expectation of having a good time, there is considerable variation in what comprises that expectation. Young men are clearly intent upon greater consumption of alcohol and drugs than are young women and they are about twice as likely to expect to engage in sexual intercourse. These expectations are largely fulfilled. More than half of the young men and nearly 40 per cent of voung women reported getting drunk VOL. 0.09 to 0.74 1 .oo 0.07 to 0.32 0.15% 0.28t 0.11 to 0.70 ' P c 0 . 0 5 , t P < O . O l , fPc0.001 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 F NO SMITH AND ROSENTHAL every night. While young people have indicated that high levels of excessive drinking during the schoolies period is inevitable and that attempts to intervene would exacerbate the situtation (South Coast Regional Health Authority, Southport, Queensland), the extent of alcohol and drug use documented here make it difficult to advocate not taking further action. While policing under-age drinking is difficult, being under-age seems to present little impediment to these young people getting drunk if they so desire. Given that being drunk or stoned was not defined in the questionnaire, the states to which these labels refer need further exploration before the extent of harm to young people can be documented accurately. Nearly half of the sample (48 per cent) had been in Surfers Paradise no more than four days, and in that time 40 per cent of the young people had had sexual intercourse. Young women were less likely than young men to report sexual intercourse with a casual partner and more likely to report sexual intercourse with a regular partner. While it is true that more young men than young women reported having sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise, the difference in the nature of the relationship reported by young men and young women may represent as much a difference in perception as a difference of practice. As has been noted elsewhere, the meaning attributed to a regular partnership can vary considerably, and therefore it is possible for one partner to consider the liaison casual while the other considers it regular.'." The rates of condom use reported by these young people were consistent with rates for travellers reported in other studies.'-'.' What is clear, however, is that those who used condoms inconsistently in Surfers Paradise had a history of inconsistent use. It is of particular concern that those engaging in inconsistent use were likely to have multiple casual sexual partners as well as regular partners. Also, not having expected engaging in sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise was associated with the failure to use condoms consistently. The data on contraception are not easy to interpret, given that they relate to all sexual activity in Surfers Paradise, not specific episondes. However, failure to use contraception was reported by more than a fifth of the sample, as was the use of withdrawal. Therefore, the risk of unintended pregnancy may have been quite high. Even though the sex of partners was not ascertained, it is unlikely that homosexual activity 'was so common as to render contraception irrelevant for most of the sample. Young people's risk taking while in Surfers Paradise was strongly associated with their past practices and their expectations of their holidays. Therefore, it is most unlikely that intervention while these young people are in Surfers Paradise will lead to appropriate behaviour change. Rather, although the initiatives of the local and state authorities are welcome, some responsibility for the behaviour of these young people must lie with the states involved. This is clearest in relation to alcohol and drug use. Residents of NSW and Victoria were more likely than their Queensland peers to expect and achieve high levels of alcohol and drug use. A a first step, it s may be adkisable for the NSM' and Victorian governments to join the Queensland government in attempting to alter the drinking and drug-use expectations of young people travelling to Surfers Paradise for Schoolies Week 1997, for example, by emphasising the laws against under-age drinking and providing campaigns that mirror the successful drink-driving campaigns and that reinforce the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. The data in relation to condom use present something of a challenge for those seeking to reduce sexual risk taking. The links between expectations, virginity status and condom use suggest that, in order to protect these young people, especially those who are inexperienced, we should alert them to the need to be prepared. In addition to continued provision of safe sex messages in schools, one practical measure may be to require travel agents, when issuing tickets, to provide messages of the type given to overseas travellers as part of the Travelsafe HIV education campaign. But for some young people, reducing risky practices is not simply a matter of dealing with their behaviour while in travel mode. The findings from this study indicate that although some young people use the end-of-school celebrations as an opportunity to engage in risky behaviours, the activities of most risk takers are an extension of their usual practices. It is important that we identify these young people and ensure that they hear and act on risk reduction messages throughout their school years and beyond. Acknowledgments This study was made possible through funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. We are grateful to the hundreds of young people who gave up a small part of their holiday to participate in the study, to Cindy Gallois for helping us to recruit interviewers, and to Rita Lutvey, Helen Fitchett, Cameron Neil and Steven Krinitzky for their assistance in data collection. The assistance of the Council of the City of the Gold Coast was instrumental in the study. M7e thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Wiley

Sex, alcohol and drugs? Young people's experience of Schoolies Week

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Wiley
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Copyright © 1997 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
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1326-0200
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1753-6405
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-842X.1997.tb01679.x
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Abstract

Abstract: The ‘Schooliesn’eek’ phenomenon attracts more than 10 000 school leavers to Surfers Paradise in November and December each year. In a survey of these young people ( N = 1796), from Queensland, New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria, about twothirds of the young men and one-third of the young women expected to have sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise. Of these, about 80 per cent expected to use condoms. Most expected to be drunk most nights or every night of their holidays and 27 per cent of young men and 17 per cent of young women expected to be ‘stoned’ most nights or every night. Most young men and a significant proportion of young women achieved these expectations, with respondents from KSW and Victoria being more likely to do so than Queensland residents. Over one-third of the sample had engaged in sexual intercourse prior to interview, and of these, two-thirds of young men and over half the young women always used condoms with casual partners. The rates for sexual intercourse with regular partners were slightly lower. Those who were inconsistent condom users on holiday were likely to have a history of inconsistent condom use and to have multiple casual partners and/or regular partners in addition to casual partners. It is recommended that the NSW and Victorian governments accept some responsibility for the behaviour of young people attending Schoolies Week. A coordinated intervention strategy is required because there are significant prior indicators of young people’s risk practices in Surfers Paradise during Schoolies Week. (Aust il’Z JPublic Health 1997; 21: 175-80) ACH year, thousands of young people congregate in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, to celebrate the end of their school careers. Generally known as ‘Schoolies M’eek’, this period extends for up to a month from late November through to the week before Christmas. In 1995, the ‘official’ Schoolies Week ran from 17 to 24 November and travel agents catering to this market offered packages that included arrivals from 18 November with departures through to 18 December.’,‘ A total of 15 000 young people was expected to congregate at Surfers Paradise during the period in 1995.’ The safety and wellbeing of young people engaging in Schoolies M’eek activities is of concern to local traders, the police and health senices. This concern has been expressed in a number of ways. First, local authorities organise a range of safe activities (including sporting activities and alcohol-free discos) for young people attending Schoolies Week. Second, brochures advertising Schoolies Week include messages of welcome from the Gold Coast City Council, the Queensland Health Authority and the Queensland Police Service.‘ These messages include warnings about the use of sunscreen, about sensible drinking, and specific warnings to young people about the penalties for under-age drinking and about not doing anything they may regret. In 1995 the warnings about under-age drinking were carried further, through the placement of full page adver- tisements in youth oriented magazines in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.’ In 1994 and 1995, the ‘Put a dinger on the donger’ campaign (South Coast Regional Health Authority, Southport, Queensland) targeted unsafe sex. The campaign involved the distribution of 10 000 condoms each year to accommodation venues available to young people. The strate<gyto make condoms available directly to young people was based in part on information from the young people themselves, who indicated that those engaging in unsafe sex were unlikely to make specific efforts to buy or otherwise obtain condoms (South Coast Regional Health Authority, Queensland) . There is concern and some evidence that young people engage in potentially health-damaging behaviours during Schoolies Week. We examined the basis for that concern. Our aims were fourfold: to document young people’s expectations of their holiday with respect to alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviour, and condom use; to examine demographic predictors of these expectations; to document the risk practices of young people during their holidays; and to examine predictors of risk taking in terms of demographic characteristics and young people’s previous risk taking. Dr Anthony Smith, Centi-e for the Stud) of Sexually Transmissible Diseases, La Trobe Unirersih, Locked Bag 12, Carlton South, \’ic 3053. Fax (03) 9284 9220. Method Proced uw Young people were approached in public areas in Surfers Paradise and invited to take part in the study. To be eligible to take part, they had to have have finished high school in 1995 and not be resident? of Surfers Paradise or the Gold Coast. Eligible participants completed a brief anonymous, self-adminisNO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 vot. 21 F SMITH AND ROSENTHAL tered questionnaire. Data were collected by four young people trained in psychology. Data collection began on 22 November 1995 and ceased on 9 December 1995. Sampling occurred in three discrete phases: 22 to 24 November to coincide with the first week of the schoolies period (the official Schoolies W’eek) ; 28 to 30 November to capture information about the second week of the period; and 4 to 9 December to examine the last phase of the schoolies period. For all periods of data collection except one (carried out in the first week by one interviewer), records were kept of refusals. A total of 1972 questionnaires was completed. The response rate was known for 1839 of these: 2659 eligible respondents were approached in obtaining the 1839 completed questionnaires, giving a response rate of 69.2 per cent. The study was approved by the La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee and by the Council of the City of the Gold Coast. M m s z iw y Data collected included sex, postcode of residence, age, type of school attended (government, independent or Catholic), and the number of days the young people had been in Surfers Paradise prior to in terview. Kespondents’ risk practices over the preceding six months were examined. Data were collected on the frequency of alcohol consumption (never; less than once a month; more than once a month but not every week; every week) and the amount usually consumed (1 or 2 drinks; 3 or 4 drinks; 5 to 8 drinks; more than 8 drinks). For the purposes of analysis, these two items ‘were combined into a composite measure of alcohol consumption (none, light, moderate, and heavy), which captured both frequency and amount consumed. The measures of frequency and amount usually consumed were strongly correlated ( r = 0.53). Light drinkers were those who consumed 1 to 4 drinks on each occasion but drank less than weekly or who drank weekly but drank no more than 2 drinks. Moderate drinkers were those consumed 5 or more drinks less than monthly, 5 to 8 drinks every month but not weekly or 3 to 4 drinks at least weekly. Heavy drinkers were those respondents who reported consuming more than 8 drinks at least monthly o r more than 5 drinks at least weekly. Sexual behaviour was examined in relation to both casual and regular partners. A casual partner was defined as ‘someone you have sex with once or infrequently’ and a regular partner as ‘someone with whom you have, or have had, an ongoing sexual relationship’. The number of both types of partner was sought (none; one; two; three o r more), the extent of condom use with those partners (alwavs; sometimes; never), how often they were drunk or ‘stoned’ when having sexual intercourse with those partners (always; sometimes; never). When condoms were not used, the form of contraception, if any, was determined (none; the pill; intrauterine contraceptive (IUCD); diaphragm; withdrawal). However, the questions relating to contraception did not relate to each specific sexual act but rather to all such acts during their time in Surfers Paradise. Thus, multiple responses were allowed. If respondents indicated that they had not had sexual intercourse in the previous six months, they were asked if they had ever had sexual intercourse. Young people’s expectations of their time in Surfers Paradise were examined. Data were sought on whether they expected to have sexual intercourse (yes or no) and if so, whether they expected to use condoms (yes or no). Respondents were asked whether they expected to get drunk or ‘stoned’ (no; some days/nights; most days/nights; every day/ night). Neither being drunk nor stoned was defined in the questionnaire. The examination of respondents’ sexual behaviour in the time they had been in Surfers Paradise was in the same form as the assessment of their behaviour in the previous six months. The sex of sexual partners was not ascertained, and whereas the majority of sexual activity can be assumed to be heterosexual, some homosexual activity is likely. Finally, respondents were asked how often they had been drunk and how often they had been stoned in their time in Surfers Paradise. A nn+s Contingency table analysis was used for two-way comparisons and logistic regression analysis for multivariate analysis of association. Results Of the 1972 respondents, eight were excluded because they were over 19 years of age. An additional 166 (8.5 per cent) were excluded because data were missing. All respondents were residents of Queensland (33.1 per cent), NSMT (45.4 per cent) or Victoria (21.5 per cent) except tcvo respondents, one each from Tasmania and Western Australia, who were excluded from the analysis. There were slightly more young women in the sample (52.7 per cent). Most in the sample were 17 or 18 years of age (44.2 per cent and 47.3 per cent respectively), with a much smaller proportion being 16 or 19 years of age (3.0 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively). Thus, 47.2 per cent of the sample were below the legal drinking age of 18 years. Of the sample. 42.4 per cent attended government schools, 36.1 per cent attended Catholic schools and 21.4 per cent attended independent schools. Students from government schools (68.2 per cent of the total secondary enrolment) were underrepresented, but the ratio of Catholic to independent school students was consistent with the national average, suggesting that neither of these sectors was overrepresented relative the other.4 The nature of the sample changed over the period of study, with most respondents being from Queensland in the first week, Victoria in the second week and NSM’ in the third week. The average age of respondents was lower in the first week because the modal age of Queensland school leavers is 17 years rather than 18 p a r s as is characteristic of Victoria and NSM: Also, most respondents from NSW had NO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 vot. 21 F SEX, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS? Table 1 : Young people's expectations of the holidays in Surfers Paradise Young men Expectation Expect to have sexual intercourse No Ys e Expect to use condoms if having sexual intercourse No Ys e Expect to get drunk No Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or night Expect to get stoned No Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or niqht n % Young women n Table 2: Results of stepwise logistic regression examining young people's expectations of their holidays in Surfers Paradise Variable Odds ratio CI Expect to engage in sexual intercourse Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Age Virgin Nonvirgin 1 .oo 0.24+ 1 .oo 0.64t 0.77 1.23' 1 .oo 11.73+ 0.19to 0.30 0.49to 0.84 0.56to 1.06 1.02to 1.48 8.88to 15.61 Expect to use condoms if having sexual intercourse 1 Queensland resident New South Wales resident 1.71t Victoria resident 1.89' Virgin 1 Nonvirgin 0.19t .oo 1.15t 2.54 o 1.14t03.13 0.06to 0.61 .oo Expect to get drunk most or all days or nights Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Attended government school Attended Catholic school Attended independent school Age 1 .oo OSO+ 0.40to 0.63 1.09to 1.96 1.14to 1.94 0.89to 1.45 1.15t02.10 1.12to 1.62 been in Surfers Paradise no more than four days whereas most respondents from Queensland and Victoria had been in Surfers Paradise five days or more. 1 .oo 1.46' l.49t 1 .oo 1.14 1.56t 1.35t Young peoplp 'v PxFectations The questionnaire explored young people's expectations of their holiday (Table 1). About two-thirds of young men but only one-third of young women indicated that they expected to engage in sexual = 214.2, 1 df, P<0.001). Among intercourse those who expected to engage in sexual intercourse, there was no association between sex and expectations that condoms would be used = 1.52, 1 df, P= 0.22). Young men were more likely to expect that they would be drunk or stoned on most or every day = 67.7, 3 df, of their holiday in Surfers Paradise P < 0.001 and x' = 37.3, 1 df, P < 0.001 respectively). Logistic regression was used to examine the differences in young people's expectations of their holidays. Explanatory variables were sex, age, state of residence, and type of school system attended. For the expectations concerning sexual intercourse and condom use, whether the respondent was a virgin was also included. In the examination of expectations relating to alcohol and drug use, response categories were reduced from four to two: none or some, and most or all. Patterns of associations are shown in Table 2. State of residence, age, sex and type of school attended were associated with all expectations. (x' Expect to get stoned most or all days or nights 1 .oo Young men Young women 0.62t Queensland resident 1 New South Wales resident l.5lt Victoria resident 1.71 Attended government school 1 .oo Attended Catholic school 0.68t Attended independent school 1.32 0.49to 0.78 1.12t02.03 1.30to 2.26 0.52to 0.89 0.99to 1.75 1.23to 1.78 .oo (x2 Age Note: (a) CI = 95% confidence interval. 1.48t (x' 'Pc 0.05, t P < 0.01, f P c 0.001 Young-people's alcohol- and drug-related risk practices Most young men and young women reported getting drunk most or every day or night of the holidav (75.2 per cent and 59.9 per cent respectively).Young men generally reported getting drunk more frequently = 56.8, 3 df, P < 0.001). Fewer respon- dents reported getting stoned but the sex differences were similar to those reported for alcohol use = 59.8,3 df, P < 0.001). Seventeen per cent of the 16-year-olds, 14.6 per cent of the 17-year-olds, 10.8 per cent of the 18-year-olds,and 17.1 per cent of the 19-year-oldshad not got drunk. Logistic regression was used to compare those who reported getting drunk most days or nights or every day or night with those who reported getting drunk less often. Explanatory variables were sex, age, state of residence, type of school system attended, and the composite measure of alcohol use in the previous six months. State of residence, previous drinking habits and sex yielded significant associations for both drinking and getting stoned. (x' (x' Young pPopk'Y S Q X U d risk practices A total of 704 respondents (39.2 per cent) indicated that thev had had sexual intercourse while in Surfers 1997 vot. 2 1 NO. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH F SMITH AND ROSENTHAL Table 3: Young people's drug-related, alcohol-related sexual behaviour while in Surfers Paradise Young men n % and ~~~ Table 4: Results of stepwise logistic regression examining young people's alcohol-related, drug-related and sexual risk practices while i n Surfers Paradise Variable Drunk mast or all nights Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Attended government school Attended Catholic school Attended independent school Nondrinker Light drinker Moderate drinker Heavy drinker Stoned most or all nights Young men Young women Queensland resident New South Wales resident Victoria resident Age Nondrinker tight drinker Moderate drinker Heavy drinker Behaviour Days or nights drunk None Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or night Days or nights stoned None Some days or nights Most days or nights Every day or night Had sexual intercourse with: No casuaI partners One casual partner Two or more casual partners Young women n % Odds ratio 1 .oo 0.65+ 1 .oo 1.07 1.46+ 1 .oo 1.31* l.81+ 1 .oo 5.43% 12.75+ 28.36+ 1 .oo 0.60+ 1 .oo 1.12 1.62t 1.24' 1 .oo CI 0.52 to 0.81 1 .I4 to 1.87 1 .O3 to 1.66 1.35 to 2.42 2.67 to 11.01 6.25 to 25.98 13.77 to 58.37 Had sexual intercourse with: No regular partners 585 One regular partner 197 Two or more regular partners 67 When having sexual intercourse with a casual partner: Did not always use condoms 103 Always used condoms 180 When having sexual intercourse with a regular partner: Did not always use condoms 105 Always used condoms 149 0.46 to 0.77 0.80 to 1.54 1.21 to 2.16 1.01 to 1.51 0.52 to 3.54 0.95 to 6.28 1.42 to 9.34 1.35 2.44 3.65' Paradise. Of those, 34.1 per cent had sex only with casual partners, 38.6 per cent only with regular partners and 27.3 per cent with both regular and casual partners. Young men were more likely than young women to report sexual intercourse with casual partners and sexual intercourse with regular partners (Table 3 ) . Of those having sexual intercourse with casual partners, almost 40 per cent indicated that they did not always use condoms and 45 per cent of those having sexual intercourse with regular partners indicated that they did not always use condoms. Therefore, of the total sample, 9.3 per cent were engaging in intercourse with casual partners without always using condoms and 11.1 per cent were doing so with regular partners. Also, 6.1 per cent of the sample were having sexual intercourse with casual partners and with regular partners but not always using condoms. Always using condoms with regular or casual partners while in Surfers Paradise was not significantly associated with the sex of the respondent, age, type of school attended, being drunk most or all nights or with being stoned most or all nights. Also, those having sexual intercourse for the first time were no less likelv to use condoms than their more experienced peers. Logistic regression was used to examine differences between those who had sexual intercourse Had sexual intercourse with a casual partner 1 .oo Young men Young women 0.63+ Days in Surfers Paradise 1.08t prior to interview Did not expect sexual intercourse 1 while in Surfers Paradise Expected sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise 4.96$ Virgin 1 .oo Nonvirgin 7.12% 0.48 to 0.81 1.03 to 1.14 .oo 3.65 to 6.73 4.29 to 1 1.82 Had sexual intercourse with a regular partner Young men 1 .oo Young women 1.43' Days in Surfers Paradise prior 1.06' to interview Did not expect sexual intercourse 1 while in Surfers Paradise Expected sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise 9.26+ Virgin 1 .oo Nonvirain 35.67+ " 1.09 to 1.87 1.01 to 1.12 .oo 6.63 to 12.92 13.12 to 96.93 Note: (a] CI = 95% confidence interval ' P < 0.05, t P < 0.01, + P c 0.001 with a casual partner and those who did not, and between those who had sexual intercourse with a regular partner and those who did not (Table 4). Explanatory variables were sex, age, state of residence, type of school system attended, days spent in Surfers Paradise prior to inteniew, whether they had expected to have sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise, and whether- they were virgins. For both AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 vot. 21 NO 2 F SEX, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS? casual and regular partners, sex, length of time in Surfers Paradise, expectations and virginity status yielded significant associations. Table 5: Results o stepwise logistic regression examining f young people's condom use with casual and regular sexual partners while in Surfers Paradise Variable Odds ratio CI Always used condoms with casual partners Young men 1 .oo Young women 0.58' Always used condoms with casual partners in prior 6 months Did not always use condoms with casual partners in prior 6 months No sexual intercourse with casual partners in prior 6 months One or no casual sexual partners in Surfers Paradise Two or more casual sexual partners in Surfers Paradise 1 .oo 1.01 to 2.94 0.18% 0.08% 1 .oo 0.08 to 0.38 0.04 to 0.1 5 O.45t 0.26 to 0.77 Always used condoms with regular partners in Surfers Paradise 1 .oo Did not always use condoms with regular partners in Surfers Paradise 10.24) No sexual intercourse with regular 1.10 partners in Surfers Paradise Expected to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to have sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise 0.10 to 0.56 0.56 to 2.15 .oo 0.22 to 0.88 0.16 to 0.83 0.44t 0.37' Always used condoms with regular partners Always used condoms with casual 1 .oo partners in Surfers Paradise Did not always use condoms with casual partners in Surfers Paradise 0.18% No sexual intercourse with casual partners in Surfers Paradise 0.54 Always used condoms with regular partners in prior 6 months Did not lways use condoms with regular partners in prior 6 months No sexual intercourse with regular partners in prior 6 months Expected to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to use condoms when having sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Did not expect to have sexual intercourse in Surfers Paradise Note: (a) CI = 95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.43 0.27 to 1.08 1 .oo 0.08% 0.26' 0.04 to 0.14 Logistic regression was used to explore further the patterns of condom use with casual and regular partners by comparing consistent with inconsistent users (Table 5). The following variables were entered in addition to those used in the earlier logistic regression: whether respondents had had two or more casual partners, whether they had had two or more regular partners, number of nights they had been drunk while in Surfers Paradise, number of nights they had been stoned while in Surfers Paradise, number of occasions when they had been drunk or stoned while having sexual intercourse with regular partners and with casual partners in Surfers Paradise, extent of condom use when having sexual intercourse with casual partners and with regular partners in the prior six months and, in the case of condom use with casual partners, whether they had had sexual intercourse with a regular partner in Surfers Paradise and had used condoms. In the analysis of condom use with regular partners, the equivalent variable for casual partners while in Surfers Paradise was used. This latter measure of current condom use. together with previous use and expectations, was significantly associated with condom use in Surfers Paradise. When condonis were not used with casual partners, no form of contraception was used in 28.4 per cent of cases, the oral contraceptive pill was used in 34.3 per cent, the IUCD in 2.4 per cent, the diaphragm in 1.2 per cent and withdrawal in 20.7 per cent. The comparable rates when condoms were not used with regular partners were 16.1 per cent, 52.6 per cent, 1.4 per cent, 0.9 per cent and 19.9 per cent respectively. The respondent was unsure if any form of contraceptive was used in 20.1 per cent and 9.3 per cent of the instances of unprotected intercourse with casual and regular partners respectively. Significant sex differences were observed with respect to the use of the pill and being unsure with casual partners, with 24.0 per cent of young men and 50.8 per cent of young women reporting the use of the pill and 29.8 per cent of young men and 4.6 per cent of young women reporting being unsure. Comparable differences with regular partners were 42.9 per cent of young men and 63.6 per cent of young women reporting use of the pill and 16.1 per cent of young men and 2.0 per cent of young women reporting being unsure. However, the questions about other forms of contraception related to the total number of occasions the respondent had had sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise, and thus, multiple responses were allowable. Discussion While young people may travel to Surfers Paradise with the expectation of having a good time, there is considerable variation in what comprises that expectation. Young men are clearly intent upon greater consumption of alcohol and drugs than are young women and they are about twice as likely to expect to engage in sexual intercourse. These expectations are largely fulfilled. More than half of the young men and nearly 40 per cent of voung women reported getting drunk VOL. 0.09 to 0.74 1 .oo 0.07 to 0.32 0.15% 0.28t 0.11 to 0.70 ' P c 0 . 0 5 , t P < O . O l , fPc0.001 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL O PUBLIC HEALTH 1997 F NO SMITH AND ROSENTHAL every night. While young people have indicated that high levels of excessive drinking during the schoolies period is inevitable and that attempts to intervene would exacerbate the situtation (South Coast Regional Health Authority, Southport, Queensland), the extent of alcohol and drug use documented here make it difficult to advocate not taking further action. While policing under-age drinking is difficult, being under-age seems to present little impediment to these young people getting drunk if they so desire. Given that being drunk or stoned was not defined in the questionnaire, the states to which these labels refer need further exploration before the extent of harm to young people can be documented accurately. Nearly half of the sample (48 per cent) had been in Surfers Paradise no more than four days, and in that time 40 per cent of the young people had had sexual intercourse. Young women were less likely than young men to report sexual intercourse with a casual partner and more likely to report sexual intercourse with a regular partner. While it is true that more young men than young women reported having sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise, the difference in the nature of the relationship reported by young men and young women may represent as much a difference in perception as a difference of practice. As has been noted elsewhere, the meaning attributed to a regular partnership can vary considerably, and therefore it is possible for one partner to consider the liaison casual while the other considers it regular.'." The rates of condom use reported by these young people were consistent with rates for travellers reported in other studies.'-'.' What is clear, however, is that those who used condoms inconsistently in Surfers Paradise had a history of inconsistent use. It is of particular concern that those engaging in inconsistent use were likely to have multiple casual sexual partners as well as regular partners. Also, not having expected engaging in sexual intercourse while in Surfers Paradise was associated with the failure to use condoms consistently. The data on contraception are not easy to interpret, given that they relate to all sexual activity in Surfers Paradise, not specific episondes. However, failure to use contraception was reported by more than a fifth of the sample, as was the use of withdrawal. Therefore, the risk of unintended pregnancy may have been quite high. Even though the sex of partners was not ascertained, it is unlikely that homosexual activity 'was so common as to render contraception irrelevant for most of the sample. Young people's risk taking while in Surfers Paradise was strongly associated with their past practices and their expectations of their holidays. Therefore, it is most unlikely that intervention while these young people are in Surfers Paradise will lead to appropriate behaviour change. Rather, although the initiatives of the local and state authorities are welcome, some responsibility for the behaviour of these young people must lie with the states involved. This is clearest in relation to alcohol and drug use. Residents of NSW and Victoria were more likely than their Queensland peers to expect and achieve high levels of alcohol and drug use. A a first step, it s may be adkisable for the NSM' and Victorian governments to join the Queensland government in attempting to alter the drinking and drug-use expectations of young people travelling to Surfers Paradise for Schoolies Week 1997, for example, by emphasising the laws against under-age drinking and providing campaigns that mirror the successful drink-driving campaigns and that reinforce the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. The data in relation to condom use present something of a challenge for those seeking to reduce sexual risk taking. The links between expectations, virginity status and condom use suggest that, in order to protect these young people, especially those who are inexperienced, we should alert them to the need to be prepared. In addition to continued provision of safe sex messages in schools, one practical measure may be to require travel agents, when issuing tickets, to provide messages of the type given to overseas travellers as part of the Travelsafe HIV education campaign. But for some young people, reducing risky practices is not simply a matter of dealing with their behaviour while in travel mode. The findings from this study indicate that although some young people use the end-of-school celebrations as an opportunity to engage in risky behaviours, the activities of most risk takers are an extension of their usual practices. It is important that we identify these young people and ensure that they hear and act on risk reduction messages throughout their school years and beyond. Acknowledgments This study was made possible through funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. We are grateful to the hundreds of young people who gave up a small part of their holiday to participate in the study, to Cindy Gallois for helping us to recruit interviewers, and to Rita Lutvey, Helen Fitchett, Cameron Neil and Steven Krinitzky for their assistance in data collection. The assistance of the Council of the City of the Gold Coast was instrumental in the study. M7e thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health – Wiley

Published: Apr 1, 1997

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