Perceived Role Legitimacy and Role Importance of Australian School Staff in Addressing Student Cannabis Use

• NCJ Number: 246680
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: 2013 Pages: 65-79
• Author(s): Peter J. Gates, Ph.D.; Melissa M. Norberg, Ph.D.; Paul Dillon, DipTch, MPS; Ramesh Manocha, Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2013
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the perceived role legitimacy and role importance of school staff in substance use prevention programs used in Australian schools.

Abstract

The high prevalence of cannabis use by Australian secondary school students makes schools an ideal setting for the delivery of substance use prevention programs. Although efficacious school-based cannabis prevention programs exist, there is scant research investigating the perceived role legitimacy and role importance of school staff. As such, this study surveyed a sample of 1,691 Australian school staff by utilizing Generation Next seminars which are attended by professionals working with young people. The self-completed survey identified that, despite elevated contact with students relative to other school staff, teachers reported the least role importance and legitimacy of all school staff. Further, teachers reported the lowest level of staff drug education training, which was an important predictor of an increased feeling of role importance and legitimacy among school staff. (Published Abstract)