Research & Resources

Drinking and driving is a significant problem in rural areas, such as Montana, but there is little empirical research about why young adults engage in such risky behavior. Researchers examined possible reasons through a theoretical framework and by conducting focus groups with young adults in rural Montana. They found several upstream social and cultural factors that can help us understand the problem and guide future research and prevention efforts. This study, “Context and culture: Reasons young adults drink and drive in rural America,” was published in Accident Analysis & Prevention. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the National Institutes of Health supported this work.