“They went down that road, and they get it”: A qualitative study of peer-to-peer models of care within perinatal substance use programs

For nearly three decades, drug courts have provided a rehabilitative approach within the criminal justice system for individuals who have a substance use disorder. The goal of drug courts is to reduce criminal recidivism, and research has consistently suggested that participants that graduate drug court are less likely to recidivate than those who are terminated from the program. This qualitative study adds to the literature by asking drug court participants ( N = 42) their views on the most helpful aspects of the program that support them in graduating and how the program could be more helpful to support them in graduating. Two themes emerged from the data: (1) participants felt that interventions that are common to drug courts, such as drug testing and having frequent contact with the judge, were most helpful in supporting them in graduating the program; (2) participants felt that the agencies that offered treatment for their substance use disorders used punitive tactics and judgmental approaches that compromised the quality of treatment they received, and they felt that this was a barrier to them graduating the program. The findings are discussed in reference to drug court practice.

Download Full-text

Treatment service related needs and concerns of women with substance use disorders: a qualitative study

International Journal of Culture and Mental Health ◽

10.1080/17542863.2017.1334076 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 123-133

Author(s):

Reni Thomas ◽

R. Dhanasekara Pandian ◽

Pratima Murthy

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Treatment Service

Download Full-text

Drug Story Theater: A Mixed-Methods Study of a Peer-to-Peer Approach to Substance Abuse Education

Health Behavior and Policy Review ◽

10.14485/hbpr.8.4.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

Author(s):

joseph shrand ◽

madeline digiovanni ◽

dana lee ◽

anita kishnore ◽

andres martin

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

High School Students ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Peer To Peer ◽

Active Components ◽

School Students ◽

Test Range ◽

Peer Intervention ◽

Before And After ◽

Group Interviews

Objective: Drug Story Theater (DST) is a peer-to-peer intervention that engages teenagers in the early stages of their recovery to develop shows about the seduction of, addiction to, and recovery from drugs and alcohol. Methods: We analyzed anonymous surveys completed by students before and after attending a DST performance, and transcripts of focus group interviews conducted with (1) program developers, (2) stakeholders, (3) performers, and (4) audience members. Results: Students (N = 871) from 5 schools attended one of 2 DST performances. Participants demonstrated increased knowledge on 5 fact-based questions (mean improvement range, 19%- 35%; p < .001 for all), and favorable changes on 10 items addressing perceptions regarding substance use risk (paired t test range, 3.9-9.4; p < .001 for all). Through iterative thematic analysis we developed an alliterative “7P” model spanning 2 domains: (1) Participants (Performers and Peers); and (2) Program (Partnerships, Practicalities, and Prevention). Conclusions: Exposure to a DST performance improved knowledge and risk perceptions about addiction among middle and high school students. It remains to be seen if those changes can have an effect on the prevention of substance use and dependence among vulnerable youth, and whether the active components of DST can be replicated in other school environments.

Download Full-text