Reflections on my NL SUPPORT Summer Research Position
Written by: Molly Downey, recipient of the NL SUPPORT Undergraduate Training in Research Assistance (NUTRA) Program
My name is Molly, and I am an undergraduate Psychology student at Memorial University. In 2022, I had the pleasure of working as a summer research student through the NL SUPPORT Undergraduate Training in Research Assistance (NUTRA) program. I worked for the Cannabis Health Evaluation and Research Partnership (CHERP), a research team that examines how cannabis legalization has affected public health in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).
In a recent study by CHERP, youth across NL shared their perspectives on improving their cannabis health literacy, describing a lack of cannabis education in the province’s schools. This finding is concerning, as cannabis use is common among NL youth and can have negative impacts on youth health. CHERP also conducted research on youth perceptions about driving under the influence of cannabis; findings highlighted the normalization of impaired driving, as well as a lack of youth awareness of the risks associated with this behaviour. To address these gaps in education, CHERP is developing a cannabis harm reduction education strategy that can be used in the school system, called Drug Education Centred on Youth Decision Empowerment (DECYDE). We are also developing cannabis education training and resources for educators, who may not be prepared or feel comfortable teaching students about this newly legalized substance. CHERP is interested in learning more about NL educators’ attitudes toward teaching cannabis education, so that the education strategy can meet the needs of teachers. With this goal in mind, we developed an online survey exploring NL educator perspectives toward teaching cannabis harm reduction education in the classroom.
Patient engagement has been a valuable component of my research experience with CHERP. Citizen advisory panels offered feedback on the DECYDE strategy, including the development of the educator survey. We also engaged with various stakeholders, such as the Department of Education, the NL English School District, and Eastern Health, who informed the development of DECYDE. Most recently, we formed a youth advisory panel, consisting of a diverse group of youth in grades 7 to 12 from across NL. This panel was created to gain youth knowledge and opinions about cannabis, as well as to determine what they would like to learn from cannabis education. Youth panel members identified a need for further substance use education in their schools, with a general consensus that education should start early, be interactive and encourage discussion, and focus on how to reduce risks rather than prohibiting substance use. This input from youth will guide the development of appropriate curriculum materials that will meet youth needs and help them to avoid cannabis-related harms.
I continue to work as a research assistant for CHERP, and am completing the educator survey project as my Honours thesis. Preliminary survey results suggest that NL educators are receptive to discussing cannabis with students but feel unprepared to do so, with many expressing an interest in receiving cannabis education training. Throughout this research, patient engagement has granted insight into the perspectives of the public, students, and educators, which will ensure that the DECYDE strategy is mutually beneficial to all those involved. Patient engagement has allowed me the opportunity to interact with diverse members of the community and learn about their perspectives and needs, granting me valuable experience which I hope to apply to future research efforts.
For more information on CHERP and their research, please visit them at: https://www.mun.ca/pharmacy/research/cherp/ or @cherpCA on Facebook and Twitter.
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