Student desires for a university drug education program

Area of Science:

• Health Education
• Higher Education Policy
• Substance Abuse Prevention

Background:

• University students require tailored drug education.
• Existing programs may not meet student needs.
• Understanding student preferences is crucial for effective program design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ascertain undergraduate students' preferences for drug education program content and delivery.
• To inform the development of a comprehensive, student-centered drug education program at a major university.

Main Methods:

• A 101-item questionnaire was administered to 656 undergraduate students.
• Data collected included knowledge base, preferred information sources, and desired program components.
• Analysis focused on student desires regarding program design and content.

Main Results:

• Students strongly supported university-provided drug education, specifically a credit course covering drugs and alcohol.
• Preferred credible sources included PhDs, MDs, and former drug users.
• Students favored values clarification and coping skills training, with women more likely to engage than men.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive drug education program should incorporate academic credit, diverse information sources, and practical skills training.
• Addressing student-identified needs can enhance program effectiveness and utilization.
• Gender differences in resource utilization should be considered in program planning.