185206 Development and evaluation of MethOIDE (Methamphetamine and Other Illicit Drug Education): A new program for health professionals in Arizona

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lubna Shaikh, MPH , College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
James K. Cunningham, PhD , College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Arizona's border region with Mexico is heavily impacted by methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin abuse, but education and training on illicit drugs for public health, medical, and related professionals in the region has been limited. To address this problem, the University of Arizona, Department of Family and Community Medicine has implemented MethOIDE--Methamphetamine and Other Illicit Drug Education. MethOIDE is a distance learning program which uses innovative teaching tools, including multimedia, to educate health professionals about 1) the health problems attendant to illicit drug use, 2) the screening and identification of clients who use illicit drugs, 3) the community resources for referring patients/clients to drug treatment services, 4) the relative effectiveness of different drug treatment modalities, and 5) the state and federal policies that impact the care of illicit-drug users. This presentation will discuss data on the epidemiology of illicit drug problems in Arizona's border region, the challenges associated with building an educational program targeting those problems, and the results of in-depth evaluation interviews with health professionals who have participated in the program. In addition, the current directions of MethOIDE will be reviewed to help health and policy administrators that are considering the need for executing similar programs.

Learning Objectives:
1. Assess the rising health problems related to illicit drug use in the border region of southern Arizona. 2. Identify the complexities involved in designing an educational course regarding illicit drugs. 3. Apply the knowledge gained from MethOIDE to the development of illicit drug education programs for health professionals in other regions, including other border states.

Keywords: Drugs, Distance Learning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have had exposure to adolescent illicit drug use issues during a MPH course. I have helped develop a distance learning education course on alcohol use and abuse and introductory online courses on maternal and child health and public health. I have also helped develop a tobacco cessation education training.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Methamphetamine, Cocaine, & Prescription Drug Use and Consequences
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