Meadowcroft Devon, Whitacre Brian
Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA.
Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Subst Abuse. 2020 Aug 20;14:1178221820920651. doi: 10.1177/1178221820920651. eCollection 2020.
This study implemented a series of meetings in one rural community struggling with the opioid crisis. Set in the town of Ardmore, Oklahoma, these meetings presented local residents who dealt with the crisis as part of their jobs with four categories of programs aimed at preventing and treating opioid-related issues. The ultimate goal was for the participants to develop a consensus about where resources should be appropriated in the future, based off the needs of the area.
Three community meetings were held over a six-week period, with an average of 40 attendees. Data was collected through surveys, study circles, and a participant voting exercise. Surveys were distributed at the beginning and end of the meetings to determine if participant views changed over the course of the study. Study circles broke participants into small groups and prompted them with questions regarding the crisis to encourage group discussion. The participant voting exercise allowed participants to note where they would like future resources to be directed.
Listening to experts and holding group discussions led to changes in opinions for some participants. Most felt that the most pressing need was to provide accessible opioid treatment options in their community. Youth-based prevention efforts were also noted as being a program that the community should focus on.
Local perceptions of the most appropriate strategies for combatting the rural opioid crisis can change with group discussions alongside others who are actively involved with this issue. Future research should actively involve affected communities in order to develop relevant and accepted action plans.
本研究在一个饱受阿片类药物危机困扰的农村社区举办了一系列会议。这些会议设在俄克拉荷马州阿德莫尔镇，向将应对危机作为工作一部分的当地居民介绍了旨在预防和治疗与阿片类药物相关问题的四类项目。最终目标是让参与者根据该地区的需求，就未来资源应分配到何处达成共识。
在六周内举行了三次社区会议，平均每次有40名与会者。通过调查、学习小组和参与者投票活动收集数据。在会议开始和结束时发放调查问卷，以确定参与者的观点在研究过程中是否发生变化。学习小组将参与者分成小组，并就危机提出问题以鼓励小组讨论。参与者投票活动让参与者指出他们希望未来资源投向何处。
听取专家意见和进行小组讨论使一些参与者的观点发生了变化。大多数人认为最紧迫的需求是在他们的社区提供可及的阿片类药物治疗选择。以青年为基础的预防工作也被指出是社区应关注的一个项目。
通过与积极参与该问题的其他人进行小组讨论，当地对应对农村阿片类药物危机最合适策略的看法可能会发生变化。未来的研究应积极让受影响社区参与，以制定相关且被接受的行动计划。
