P0167 - Substance Use and Addiction Education for Northern Nevada Youth

Background: The Healthier Nevada Youth Educational Modules project consists of a curriculum created by a team of medical students to promote healthy, preventative lifestyle choices in the Washoe County School District (WCSD). In 2017, the WCSD reported that 30-35% of students in grades 9-12 had lived with someone who was a problem drinker, alcoholic, or had abused street or prescription drugs. Despite this, education in these areas is lacking in many schools. In our project we sought to educate youth on the health effects and social impact of substance use disorders, the commonality of addiction, as well as the opioid epidemic and the utilization of naloxone (Narcan). Here we report on how our project impacted high school student’s knowledge and attitudes about substance use and abuse, as well as their comfort with discussing related health concerns with a healthcare provider.

Methods: 749 WCSD health class students in grades 9-12 were surveyed before and after a substance use and addiction presentation using a Lickert scale scoring system. The surveys were designed to assess the students’ understanding of substance use disorders, awareness of the opioid epidemic and naloxone use, as well as their attitudes about discussing these sensitive topics with healthcare providers. Inclusion criteria was met by completing both surveys. All materials were approved by WCSD and the University of Nevada, Reno IRB.

Results: A total of 682 students fulfilled inclusion criteria. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, comparison between the student survey responses before and after the presentation indicated overall improvement in the students’ understanding of the substance use and addiction topics covered in the module. For example, 33% of students rated their understanding of the opioid epidemic as poor or very poor prior to the presentation. This number decreased to only 3% after the presentation. Additionally, 65% of students rated their understanding and awareness of naloxone (Narcan) as poor or very poor prior to the presentation versus 6% after the presentation. When asked if they would feel comfortable discussing sensitive information regarding substance use/abuse with their doctor, 19% of students initially reported that they strongly agreed. This number increased to 28% after the presentation.

Conclusions: Medical students as educators is an effective way to provide education about substance use and abuse, including current trends in addiction medicine. By providing education about the opioid epidemic and potential interventions, we can increase community awareness and decrease stigma while also promoting medical providers as a potential resource for intervention.