The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has identified three populations likely to engage in methamphetamine use: long-distance truck drivers; low-income migrant workers; and men who have sex with men. This occurred as a result of the 1996 National Methamphetamine Strategy, developed by the Federal government in response to the resurgence of methamphetamine trafficking and use in the U.S. Among other components, the Strategy recommends that a public awareness campaign be designed to target populations most at risk and most effectively reached by available media. CSAP undertook research to identify key populations, to understand use patterns among these populations, and to develop communication strategies to reach them.
Interviews with treatment professionals and population experts, interviews with members of each population, and focus groups served to identify the kinds of behavior and opinions that exist among the target populations and possible reasons for this behavior. CSAP's Communication Strategy Guide: A Look at Methamphetamine Use Among Three Populations summarizes the research methodology and results, and outlines potential communication strategies, messages, and channels.
Building on the Communication Strategy Guide, this presentation describes the rationale for and methodology of the research and explores results, including similarities and differences in the studied populations regarding methamphetamine use behaviors and attitudes. Possible communication strategies to reach each population group are presented, and implications for next steps are discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the impact of increased methamphetamine use on individual and community health and safety. 2. Compare and contrast the behaviors and opinions of three population groups regarding methamphetamine use. 3. Discuss potential communication strategies, messages, and channels to reach men who have sex with men, migrant workers, and truck drivers with methamphetamine use prevention messages. 4. Apply the research methodology and communication program design described in the session to the populations/communities that they serve
Keywords: Communication,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: University Research Co., LLC is a contractor to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention