Assessing College Students’ Demands for Drug Abuse Prevention Education: Differences Based on Degrees of Drug Use Risk

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this research is to identify varying demands for drug abuse prevention education among college students according to the degree of students’ drug use risk. Such insight will further inform the design of drug abuse prevention education for college students in the future.

Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered survey targeting sophomore students at 17 colleges and universities in Japan. The final analysis included 1,477 survey responses.

Results: The survey found that overall college students’ interest in and motivation for drug abuse prevention education was low. The preferred method of education was one-time group lecture delivered by an external speaker during class period right after they start their freshman year. The analysis also demonstrates, however, that the students’ drug use risk influenced their educational needs. Those who reported past drug use in the survey were more likely to prefer more in-depth drug use prevention education.

Conclusion: In designing drug abuse prevention education for college students, combining a lecture to raise all students’ interest level (population approach) and a more flexible program tailored to students’ needs (risk approach) may be effective. In a flexible program the mode and the frequency of education can be adjusted according to students’ motivation and awareness. One example could be an elective class offered by faculty who are familiar with the student body in which discussion and other elements of active learning can be incorporated.