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Methamphetamine in the United States:Perceptions and Educational Programming Needs in Extension Education

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2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Human and Community Resource Development.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that affects the human central nervous system. The drug possesses an extensive U.S. history because of the ability to produce the drug in clandestine laboratories using common household chemicals. Methamphetamine has remained a threat despite the changing landscape in use, distribution, and production: and presidential initiatives to combat the drug; media coverage and depictions in entertainment; prevention education; and policy legislation.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of methamphetamine, the role of the media, and the need for prevention and safety education through survey methodology that employed a mixed-mode approach of an online and mail questionnaire. The study focused on a random sample of U.S. states (N = 44) and the Extension Directors (EDs) within each state (N = 207). A 70% response rate was received (n = 134).

Findings revealed that 11% of EDs reported they had received methamphetamine user prevention training and 23% had received safety training. EDs who had prior training perceived their knowledge higher than those without prior use training, with a large effect (d = .72). Also, EDs who had prior methamphetamine safety training perceived their knowledge higher than those without prior user training, with a large effect (d = .93). Males perceived themselves as more knowledgeable about methamphetamine with a small effect (d = .35). Yet, females perceived methamphetamine education as more important with a medium effect (d = .44).

EDs who had high or medium community involvement perceived their knowledge as higher than those with low or no community involvement with a small effect (f = .09). The Midwest, West, and South regions perceived their knowledge of methamphetamine higher than the Northeast region, with a medium effect (f = .29). The Midwest, West, and Northeast regions perceived the importance of methamphetamine education as higher than the South region, with a medium effect (f = .27). The Midwest, West, and South regions perceived the threat of methamphetamine as higher than those in the Northeast, with a medium effect (f = .31). Lastly, EDs in the West, South, and Midwest perceived their media dependency as higher than the EDs in the Northeast, with a medium effect(f = .33).

EDs learned the most from the news with 44% ranking the media as where they obtained the most methamphetamine information. Seventy-nine percent reported they had read or watched local news coverage on a methamphetamine lab seizure. Eighty-five percent of EDs agreed that the media was their primary source of methamphetamine information and 93% possessed inaccurate methamphetamine use perceptions; therefore, supporting the Media Dependency and Moral Panic theories. This research is the first national study that evaluated methamphetamine programming needs related to user prevention and community safety. Results provide justification for the implementation of methamphetamine education and farm safety programming. Research also supports the Media Dependency and Moral Panic theories. However, because of the limited research available, opportunities for additional social science methamphetamine research exist.

Larry Miller (Advisor)
Joe Donnermeyer (Committee Member)
Scott Scheer (Committee Member)
174 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Beaudreault, A. R. (2009). Methamphetamine in the United States:Perceptions and Educational Programming Needs in Extension Education [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1259611320

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Beaudreault, Amy. Methamphetamine in the United States:Perceptions and Educational Programming Needs in Extension Education. 2009. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1259611320.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Beaudreault, Amy. "Methamphetamine in the United States:Perceptions and Educational Programming Needs in Extension Education." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1259611320

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)