1 Adolescents in transition: The role of workplace alcohol and other drug policies as a prevention strategy. (In press: - Drugs: Education, Policy, and Prevention, August Edition, 2006) Ken Pidd Robert Boeckmann Mary Morris ABSTRACT Aims: To assess (1) the alcohol and other drug (AOD) consumption patterns of adolescent new entrants to the Australian workforce and (2) the association between these consumption patterns and workplace factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 300 first year apprentices (aged 15-22 years) employed in South Australian workplaces. Findings: More than 40% of apprentices surveyed reported cannabis and alcohol consumption patterns that placed them at risk of potential harm. In addition, 19% reported drinking alcohol and 6.7% reported using cannabis during work-related hours. Workplace alcohol availability and the existence of workplace AOD policies were significantly associated with apprentices’ consumption patterns. Apprentices employed in workplaces where alcohol was available used alcohol more often than those reporting no alcohol availability at work. Apprentices reporting an alcohol policy at their workplace reported less alcohol use compared to apprentices reporting no policy. Apprentices reporting a drug policy at their workplace reported lower levels cannabis and alcohol use compared to those reporting no policy. Conclusions: Workplace factors, in particular workplace AOD policies, were significantly associated with adolescent AOD use both at and away from the workplace. These findings indicate that the workplace has potential as a setting for prevention strategies design to minimise AOD- related harms. Introduction Preventing the early uptake of potentially harmful alcohol and illicit drug consumption patterns during adolescence is an area of growing concern. However, little attention has been paid to the workplace as a potential setting for prevention strategies. This is despite evidence indicating many adolescents undergo occupational transition during a developmental stage in their life that coincides with the initiation of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. Developmental models of AOD use (e.g., Kandel, 1985) highlight that the risk of initiating AOD use appears to increase during adolescence and peaks during the period of mid to late adolescence. This finding is supported by Australian (AIHW, 2003), US (Johnston & White, 2003) and UK (Ramsay, Baker, Goulden, Sharp, & Sondi, 2001) prevalence data which identifies adolescents as a population ‘at-risk’ of AOD-related harm. Each year a substantial number of these at-risk adolescents enter the workforce. Research that has examined the negative outcomes of adolescent employment consistently reports a relationship between adolescent employment and AOD use (Dunn, 2005; Knudsen, Roman, & Johnson, 2004; McMorris & Uggen, 2000; Mihalic & Elliot, 1997; Paschall, Ringwalt, & Flewelling, 2001; Steinberg & Dornbusch, 1991; Steinberg, Fegley, & Dornbusch, 1993; Valois, Dunham, Jackson, & Waller, 1999; Wu, Schlenger, & Galvin, 2003). Of particular concern, is the consistent finding that adolescents who spend greater amounts of time at work