Barbara L Paterson1, Ciro Panessa. 1. Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick, MacLaggan Hall, Room 07, PO Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. bpaterso@unb.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The focus of the article is the engagement of at-risk youth in harm reduction interventions for illicit drug use. Literature in the fields of education, recreation, health education, and community development suggest that engaging young people in the planning, implementation and evaluation of harm reduction interventions will not only benefit those who participate, but will contribute to the sustainability and effectiveness of the interventions. METHODS: A review of published research about the efficacy of harm reduction interventions for at-risk youth was undertaken. RESULTS: Harm reduction interventions with at-risk youth have focused on researcher-delivered, short-term educational sessions in which engagement is a minor consideration. Assumptions about how to engage at-risk youth are untested and problematic to incorporate when executing harm reduction strategies. CONCLUSIONS: If harm reduction approaches are ethically mandated to address the meaningful engagement of at-risk youth, there are many challenges pertaining to the nature and outcomes of such engagement that need to be investigated in future research.
BACKGROUND: The focus of the article is the engagement of at-risk youth in harm reduction interventions for illicit drug use. Literature in the fields of education, recreation, health education, and community development suggest that engaging young people in the planning, implementation and evaluation of harm reduction interventions will not only benefit those who participate, but will contribute to the sustainability and effectiveness of the interventions. METHODS: A review of published research about the efficacy of harm reduction interventions for at-risk youth was undertaken. RESULTS: Harm reduction interventions with at-risk youth have focused on researcher-delivered, short-term educational sessions in which engagement is a minor consideration. Assumptions about how to engage at-risk youth are untested and problematic to incorporate when executing harm reduction strategies. CONCLUSIONS: If harm reduction approaches are ethically mandated to address the meaningful engagement of at-risk youth, there are many challenges pertaining to the nature and outcomes of such engagement that need to be investigated in future research.
Authors: Renee E Sieving; Annie-Laurie McRee; Molly Secor-Turner; Ann W Garwick; Linda H Bearinger; Kara J Beckman; Barbara J McMorris; Michael D Resnick Journal: Perspect Sex Reprod Health Date: 2014-03-20
Authors: George C Patton; Susan M Sawyer; John S Santelli; David A Ross; Rima Afifi; Nicholas B Allen; Monika Arora; Peter Azzopardi; Wendy Baldwin; Christopher Bonell; Ritsuko Kakuma; Elissa Kennedy; Jaqueline Mahon; Terry McGovern; Ali H Mokdad; Vikram Patel; Suzanne Petroni; Nicola Reavley; Kikelomo Taiwo; Jane Waldfogel; Dakshitha Wickremarathne; Carmen Barroso; Zulfiqar Bhutta; Adesegun O Fatusi; Amitabh Mattoo; Judith Diers; Jing Fang; Jane Ferguson; Frederick Ssewamala; Russell M Viner Journal: Lancet Date: 2016-05-09 Impact factor: 79.321