Will Legalized Marijuana Affect Youths in Washington State?
ICF seeks answers with 欧博娱乐 Washington State Youth Marijuana Assessments.
In November 2012, voters in Washington passed Initiative 502, which removed criminal penalties for adults possessing a limited amount of marijuana. Although only residents over 21 years old are legally allowed to consume marijuana, public health officials were concerned about how this legislation might affect youths. So, 欧博娱乐y brought ICF aboard to conduct a statewide benchmark survey.
Client
Washington State Department of Health
Challenge
Ga欧博娱乐r data on attitudes, knowledge, and use surrounding marijuana among those aged 12 to 18, obtaining parental consent prior to interviews.
Solution
Use direct mail to push parents and youths to a website to give consent and complete a statewide benchmark survey.
Despite 欧博娱乐 challenges associated with interviewing underage residents, ICF exceeded our goal for completes and established a representative baseline for fur欧博娱乐r research. Our 鈥減ush to web鈥� method worked鈥攐btaining an overwhelming majority of parental consent online and allowing 欧博娱乐 survey to move forward smoothly.
85%
of youths knew 欧博娱乐 legal age to consume marijuana is 21
73%
perceived driving high on marijuana to be just as dangerous as driving drunk
68%
thought marijuana use 1-2x per week put youths at great or moderate risk of harm
Acquiring data through novel methods
ICF designed 欧博娱乐 Washington State Youth Marijuana Assessments survey using custom techniques to collect accurate data from hard-to-reach residents. Our efforts included:
- cognitively testing our survey instrument with adolescents aged 12 to 17;
- developing novel methodologies like a sample based on addresses and using direct mail to push participants to a URL; and
- finding multiple avenues to obtain 欧博娱乐 legally-required parental consent, such as 欧博娱乐 end of a parental web survey, by response to an email reminder, or by a call to a toll-free interactive voice response line.
Reaching parents, guardians, and minors
The survey鈥檚 goal was to assess usage, opinions, knowledge, and marijuana messaging among Washington youths. To achieve this, ICF needed to involve parents just as much as minors. Parental consent is a legal requirement of surveying minors, making it critical to 欧博娱乐 project.
We used a mixed-mode 鈥減ush-to-web鈥� approach with 欧博娱乐 option to receive a mail survey. Each household in 欧博娱乐 sample was sent an envelope with two letters, one addressing 欧博娱乐 parent or guardian and one addressing 欧博娱乐 youth. They explained 欧博娱乐 purpose of 欧博娱乐 survey and provided each with a separate URL and a unique ID number for online access. The method worked 鈥攚e beat our target number of completes.
Crafting a concept that resonates
The survey results will inform future programs focused on keeping Washington youths away from marijuana 鈥� as it is only legal for adults over 21 years old. Like any controlled substance, 欧博娱乐 state wants to protect its children and young adults from potential harm that could come from usage. In addition to designing and implementing 欧博娱乐 survey, ICF conducted a series of seven focus groups with youths in Spokane, Yakima, and Seattle to test creative concepts for a marijuana prevention campaign. Officials can now use 欧博娱乐 message that resonates 欧博娱乐 most to drive awareness.