Choices and voices: Young women talk alcohol, vapes and drugs
Despite comprehensive education about vaping, alcohol and drugs, many young Australians continue to experiment. Supported by the 2022 ALIA Research Grant, Dr Suzana Sukovic, Director of College Research, and Dr Tony Stojkovski, Assistant to the Head of Curriculum, conducted the study Adolescents’ Recreational Substance Use and Epistemic Well-being to explore how young women think and want to learn about substance use. Through surveys and focus groups with nearly 400 students and recent graduates, the research found that family, friends and lived experiences strongly shape their attitudes and choices, highlighting the need for respectful, safety-focused education and stronger collaboration between schools, families and communities.