Strategy for Alcohol Abuse Education: A Service Learning Model within a Course Curriculum

Abstract

Drug abuse education, particularly on a college level, should involve students with their college and local community to establish a more fundamental understanding of the consequences of drug abuse. Therefore, we proposed a student court monitoring of driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases utilizing a service learning strategy. As a requirement for a chemical and substance abuse class, students took part in court monitoring of DWI cases within a judicial district. Students also provided a reflective paper in which they could share their subjective feelings, opinions, and overall observation of the courtroom environment. The court-monitoring of DWI cases has been implemented by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and has served as an effective tool designed to increase the likelihood of convictions, decrease the likelihood of dismissals, and in the case of a repeat offender, increase the length of jail sentence. This article examines the service learning strategy's initiation, developmental process implementation, specific outcomes, and offers suggestions for future implementation and duplication within other college drug abuse courses.