Anti-homophobia policies may reduce teen binge drinking

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A UBC study reveals an unexpected benefit to anti-homophobia programs in high schools: they appear to cut down binge drinking.

That applies not just for gay students, but straight teens, too.

UBC School of Nursing professor Elizabeth Saewyc figures anti-homophobia policies reduce overall bullying and create a better environment for everyone.

“A lot of straight young people are bullied using homophobic terms, and so a lot of the people who say they are harassed with anti-gay harassment actually are straight.”

“We think perhaps what’s happening is those gay/straight alliances and anti-bullying policies actually reduce harassment overall in the school and create a more inclusive environment,” she explains.

Saewyc says the decrease in binge drinking is quite noticeable in the stats; she feels it’s another reason for schools to seriously consider anti-homophobia policies.

Click here to read the study.

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