Needs of Prevention Professionals to Effectively Prevent Drugged Driving in Their Communities

The prevention of drugged driving: needs, barriers, and self-efficacy of prevention professionals

Stelter, R., Kupersmidt, J., Brodar, K., & Eisensmith, S. (2019). The prevention of drugged driving: needs, barriers, and self-efficacy of prevention professionals. Journal of Primary Prevention, 40(4): 449-461. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10935-019-00555-2

Abstract

Objectives: To understand the needs of prevention professionals to prevent and reduce drugged driving, barriers to implementing prevention strategies, and self-efficacy of prevention professionals to effectively prevent drugged driving at a community level.

Methods: We surveyed 238 prevention professionals working in substance abuse prevention and highway safety from 46 states to understand their needs, barriers, and self-efficacy to prevent drugged driving in their communities.

Results: Most respondents reported needing training and resources to implement strategies related to drugged driving, particularly with regard to engaging youth and parents, if they are to address this problem effectively. The majority of respondents also reported low levels of self-efficacy for implementing a wide range of drugged driving prevention strategies.

Conclusions: Our findings reveal that the professionals we need to feel prepared and efficacious to prevent drugged driving have generally low feelings of confidence in their ability to do so. To that end, this paper also identifies several specific informational and skill-based needs that can be addressed through training and resource development.