Changes in Students’ Attitudes towards Substance Use and Treatment: A Mixed Method Inquiry on Experiential Learning Tactics

Experiential learning is a valuable tool to increase students’ understanding of complex phenomena we encounter in criminal justice classrooms. This study uses a mixed methods research design to explore the impact of short-term experiential learning tactics in an upper-division course on substance use and treatment. Students were asked to attend a lecture given by an individual who has engaged in drug use and then either volunteer in a treatment-related facility or conduct interviews on drug-related topics. Reflection papers on these experiences from 21 participating students form the qualitative portion of this study. To measure the impact quantitatively, two validated surveys on attitudes towards drug use and harm reduction were completed by the students at the beginning and at the end of the semester. Findings from both data sources are integrated to provide a holistic understanding of how the experiential learning tactics impacted students’ views towards substance use and harm reduction. Our results suggest that the tactics helped students address some of their preconceived notions about harm reduction, drugs, and those who use them, as well as enhanced the course material. We conclude with a discussion focused on practical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future directions.