Operation Safe Crossing: Using Science Within a Community Intervention

• NCJ Number: 198561
• Journal: Addiction Volume: 97 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 1205-1214
• Author(s): Robert B. Voas; A. Scott Tippetts; Mark B. Johnson; James E. Lange; James Baker
• Date Published: September 2002
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 AA11913; R01 AA12540
• Sponsoring Agency: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This paper evaluates a drunk-driving enforcement program at the United States/Mexico border that was designed to reduce the number of American youths crossing the border to drink in Tijuana bars.

Abstract

The authors explain that the prevalence of American youths crossing the border to drink in Tijuana bars and then returning to the United States drunk has presented a community safety issue for United States border towns and cities. As such, San Diego officials began an aggressive border enforcement program designed to curb underage drinking in Tijuana bars. The authors examined data related to the number of news events about underage drinking in Tijuana bars, as well as data from the Immigration and Naturalization Services concerning the number of individuals crossing the border each weekend night. Alcohol consumption among these 2 million border crossers was measured using random breath-test surveys. Statistical analysis of this data revealed that San Diego’s border enforcement effort had reduced the number of late-night border crossers by 31.6 percent. In conclusion, the author states that media advocacy and the border enforcement efforts were associated with a reduction in drunk driving car accidents. Tables, references