Understanding the needs of local youth to inform drug and alcohol prevention and harm reduction services: a qualitative study

Authors

Emily DeansFollow
Jioji Ravulo, University of WollongongFollow
Ilse BlignaultFollow
Elizabeth Conroy

RIS ID

144716

Publication Details

Deans, E., Ravulo, J., Blignault, I. & Conroy, E. (2020). Understanding the needs of local youth to inform drug and alcohol prevention and harm reduction services: a qualitative study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia,

Abstract

Issue addressed Reducing drug and alcohol harm is a public health priority and the Australian government has adopted a harm minimisation approach to policy. Understanding the needs of local youth is necessary for the design of relevant prevention and harm reduction services. Methods Using 5 unstructured focus groups and 10 interviews involving 30 participants recruited from different settings, this study explored youth perspectives around alcohol and other drugs and the psychosocial factors that influence their substance use. Results Three main themes were identified. First, young people perceived that drugs fell into a hierarchy related to the harm they cause and the stigma associated with use. Second, the importance of validating a young person's experience with using drugs (regardless of where they were placed on their substance‐use trajectory) as a measure to increase the credibility of drug education programs. Third, the significant influence of peers on young people's drug attitudes and behaviours. Conclusions Drug and alcohol education strategies must be more explicit regarding harm across all drug types, regardless of legal status or perceived social acceptability. Prevention services would benefit from including lived realities from young people's varied, and changing, substance‐use trajectories. Peer involvement in the design of preventive strategies (and involvement in participatory research to identify felt needs) is paramount to ensure teachings are grounded in a young person's social context and lived realities. So what? This study provides information to guide development of appropriate and authentic drug and alcohol prevention and harm reduction services for young people.