1

Appreciative Inquiry Research Dealing with Student

Prescription Drug AbuseDr. Jeanelle Boyer, Dr. Marj Droppa, Dr. John

Finneran and Dr. Margaret A Smith

Keene State College, NH

NAADAC 2014

2

Today’s Objectives

Discuss the following:Prescription drug abuse on college

campusesCurrent prevention strategies used to

address prescription drug abuseThe use of Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

research as an evidence-based prevention strategy

3

Objective One

Prescription drug abuse on college campuses

Dr. John Finneran

4

Prescription Drug Use on College Campuses

Approximately one in every five college students reported nonmedical use of at least one prescription medication in their lifetime.

Past year prevalence of medical use, diversion and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants increased significantly between 2003 and 2013.

Past year use was greater among males, Whites, members of social fraternities and sororities, those with a lifetime history of medical use of prescription medications, or past year history of being approached to divert their prescription medications.

Past year prevalence of medical use, diversion and nonmedical use of prescription opioids decreased significantly over the same period. McCabe et al. (2014) Trends in medical use, diversion, and nonmedical use of prescription

medication among college students from 2003 to 2013: Connecting the dots. Addictive Behaviors, 39, 1176-1183

5

Trends in past-year nonmedical use of prescription medications in college students: 2003–2013 McCabe et al., 2014

6

All other drugs combined(percent)

MaleActual use

Female Actual use

Total Actual use

MalePerceived use

FemalePerceived use

Total Perceived use

Never used

58.3 75.5 69.7 14.2 10.9 12.1

Used but not in the last 30 days

23.2 16.2 18.5 17.4 14.4 15.4

Used 1 – 9 days

13.3 6.4 8.7 41.8 42.3 41.9

Used 10-29 days

2.5 1.2 1.7 17.4 20.3 19.2

Used 30 days

2.7Fe 0.7 1.4 9.2 12..2 11.4

Any use in last 30 days

18.5 8.3 11.9 68.4 74.8 72.5

Percent of Other drug use - *Excludes alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco from a water pipe, and marijuana within the past 12 months – ACHA/NCHA 2013

Drug Percent Male Female Total

Antidepressants 2.2 3.1 2.8

Erectile dysfunction drugs

1.2 0.8 0.9

Pain killers 6.2 5.5 5.8

Sedatives 3.1 3.1 3.2

Stimulants 7.1 5.4 6.0

Used one or more of the above

12.3 11.4 11.8

Percent of college students who reported using drugs that were not prescribed to them within the last 12 months ACHA/NCHA 2013

8

9

Problems Associated with Prescription Drug Abuse among College Students

Health risks (seizures, stroke, death) Most college students abusing Adderall

were also binge drinkers and half heavy alcohol users(SAMSHA, 2009)

Students who take prescription drugs non-medically are 5x more likely to develop a drug abuse problem (McCabe, 2008)

10

Objective 2

Current techniques used to address prescription drug abuse

Dr. Margaret Smith

11

What prevention strategies are you using in your

community or campus?

Current Methods of Reducing Drug Abuse on College Campuses

Environmental approaches (ex: Social Norms, campus wide policies)

Orientation Programs (ex: Under the Influence Program, New Student Orientation)

Late night and Weekend Activities/Events/Programs

Current Methods of Reducing Drug Abuse on College Campuses

Education Groups (ex: Policy Violators Group, Residential Education Programs)

Individual Counseling Peer Education Special programs for Athletes,

Fraternities, Sororities

What isn’t working

Individual (for the most part) One-time only Non-environmental approaches

15

Objective 3

The use of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) research as an evidence-based

prevention strategy

What is AI?

Dr. Marj Droppa

What is Appreciative Inquiry (AI)?

A framework for creating an imagined future that builds on the most positive and vital elements of a community or organization

16

Values the best of what is

Envisions what might be

Engages in dialogue about what should be

Develops strategies to bring about what will be

17

DESIGN

DISCOVER

DREAM

DELIVER

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

“Appreciative Inquiry focuses us on the positive aspects of our lives and leverages them to correct the negative. It’s the opposite of ‘problem-solving.”

White, T.H. Working in Interesting Times: Employee morale and business success in the information age. Vital Speeches of the Day, May 15, 1996, Vol XLII, No. 15.

18

PROBLEM SOLVINGAPPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Analytical Process

Define the Problem

Fix what is broken

Focus on what is wrong

“What are the root causes of problems or gaps in services?”

Creative Process

Search for strengths that already exist

Amplify what is working

Focus on life-giving forces

“What is working well around here?”

19

VS

20

Creative Process Each 4D is guided by Positive

QuestionsHigh point experiencesValuesCore, life-giving factorsImages of future success

Encourage visual design

Appreciative Assumptions

In every society, organization, or group, something is working

What we focus on becomes our reality

The act of asking questions of a group influences the group in some way

Looking for what works well and doing more of it is motivating and effective

21

Outcomes of AI

Recognition and affirmation of the group’s strengths, values and resources

Deep understanding of the factors that contribute to success

Strategies to build on success

Synergy within the group

Momentum moving forward

22

The Phases

23

Discover

Dream

Design

Deliver

Inquiry into the group’s experience of what works; look for themes.

Discover

Develop common images for the future; envision “what could be”. Develop provocative propositions.

Dream

Align strengths, values, structure, and mission with vision. Develop achievable plans and steps to make vision a reality.

Design

Co-create a sustainable, envisioned future.Deliver

24

25

The BEST part of AI?

It is community-based It is a participatory event It empowers

“It focuses on what a community does well rather than on eliminating what a community does badly”

26

Objective 3 cont….

The use of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) research as an evidence-based

prevention strategy

AI at Keene State College

Dr. Jeanelle Boyer

27

AI at Keene State College

40 participants: faculty, staff, students, community members

4 weekday evenings 2 hour sessions

28

AI at Keene State: Discovery

Partner Interviews and small group discussion uncovered the BEST about Health and Wellness at KSC

Results- “Positive Core”• Wellness facilities and student clubs• Non-judgmental attitudes by peers• Supportive environment • Safety and challenge • Volunteer opportunities• Close community• Student involvement outside the college

29

Discovery: Let’s try it!

Think of a time when a prevention strategy worked really well. Talk about that experience with your partner. Take notes. (~3 min per person)

30

AI at KSC: Discovery

31

AI at KSC: Dream

KSC opens the communities eyes to a new drug-free horizon!

Supporters watched today as over half of KSC’s students took a pledge to be H.I.P. (Healthy, Involved, Positive).

Stigma No More: Keene Community Unites to Provide Support and Alternatives leading to national prescription

drug reform.

Going the extra mile, the KSC community leads the way to prescription drug reform

through new ways of resource support and prevention for communities across the nation

32

AI at KSC: Design

Increase the number of peer educators as well as the number of educated RA’s and RD’s

Educate all new teachers/staff/faculty at KSC Increase awareness about stress relievers (ex

yoga, meditation, music, dance) Mobilizing the whole community Community endorsement/more resources for

the cause/grants Maintaining what we already have in place Inspirational speakers for the public

33

Strengths of AI

Community driven prevention strategies Spring board for a grant and a larger AI

summit Empowering Engaged participants Great attendance

34

Reflections from the Research Team

Best Part of AI as a Prevention Strategy?

35

Where we are today

Applied for and received a federally funded grant to use AI inquiry to evaluate community needs and to eventually implement prevention strategies

Partnership with Franklin Pierce College and Cheshire County

AI summit in October at Keene State College with participants from both the college and the greater Keene community

36

37

Questions & Overview

How does prescription and other substance misuse affect the members of a large, closed community, a college campus?

What is the biopsychosocial impact of a person with moderate to severe substance use disorder upon suite mates, dorm mates, class mates, and others within the college community?

Are responses similar to a nuclear or extended family with substance misuse at its center?

38

Questions?

39

Thank You