Abstract
We present findings from a unique virtual community of practice piloted to support a programme of prevention evidence and knowledge sharing among professional prevention practitioners as ‘experiential experts’ around tackling novel psychoactive substances (NPS) use in Portugal. A mixed-methods approach that combined quantitative analysis of interactions and qualitative content analysis of debates about NPS, NPS users, patterns of use and best practices in prevention of this type of drug use was conducted. Results show low and irregular interactions between members of this virtual community, but very rich discussions around sharing of experiences and problematizing practices. We discuss the layers of interaction between members, and the shared learning around policy and practice implications. Such virtual and collaborative work practices are not yet integrated within the drug prevention field where instead individualistic approaches tend to prevail and preclude the sharing of alternative solutions that shape different experiences. Our virtual community of NPS prevention experts provides a flagship for ongoing collaboration between research, generation of evidence informing policy and practice, professional training, support and shared learning. It underscores the need for an innovative and multi-disciplinary approach to sharing perspectives in tackling emerging and harmful drug trends.
Highlights
Evidence based preventive interventions targeting family, school, workplace, environment, media, and community have incurred considerable progress in recent years (Leadbeater, et al, 2018; Ostaszewski et al, 2018; Gottfredson, et al, 2015; Berkel, Mauricio, Schoenfelder & Sandler, 2011)
Our work responds to the call by EMCDDA which stresses that “Professional training is vital for the successful introduction of prevention approaches” (EMCDDA 2018, p. 61)
We present findings from a unique virtual community of practice piloted to support a programme of prevention evidence and knowledge sharing among professional prevention practitioners as ‘experiential experts’ around tackling novel psychoactive substances (NPS) use in Portugal
Summary
Evidence based preventive interventions targeting family, school, workplace, environment, media, and community have incurred considerable progress in recent years (Leadbeater, et al, 2018; Ostaszewski et al, 2018; Gottfredson, et al, 2015; Berkel, Mauricio, Schoenfelder & Sandler, 2011). Prevention science itself can be classified by form or configuration and by the function of specific interventions (Foxcroft, 2014). Different prevention modalities correspond to the identified level of risk in a targeted population. Selective prevention refers to interventions targeting groups of individuals whose risk factors are higher than average. Indicated prevention focuses on individuals or groups who are identified as high-risk, as they are already in the course of developing a problematic behaviour, with minimal but detectable signs or symptoms (Ostaszewski et al, 2018; Foxcroft, 2014; Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994)
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