Utilizing experiential learning to deliver substance misuse prevention education and impact local communities

ABSTRACT

This two-year study examined whether an experiential learning course (N = 3) can effectively train Bachelor of Social Work students (N = 61) to provide substance misuse prevention services and make a quantifiable impact on their campus and surrounding community. The results showed that the course effectively trained students to engage in prevention activities with a 97% cumulative class average and an 80% pass rate for engaged students on an internationally accredited prevention exam. The course also produced several significant outputs such as collecting 7.6 tons of garbage from the local community, distributing public health materials to over 7,000 students, and saving a community member’s life through the administration of Naloxone for an overdose. Overall, implications from the study suggest that social work academic programs can utilize experiential learning to effectively train students to engage in substance misuse prevention while also producing significant and measurable outcomes for local communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Addiction
• education
• experiential learning
• immersive learning
• prevention
• social work
• substance misuse

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Ball State University Provost’s Immersive Learning Grant # 18772511 And the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration # 20-0527.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Ball State University [18772511]; Indiana Family and Social Services Administration [20-0527].