University Counseling Center Counselors’ Perceptions of Their Role in Preventing Psychoactive Substance Use Among Students

Abstract

▌Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine university counseling center counselors’ perceptions of their role in preventing psychoactive substance use among students. ▌Methods: This study adopted a qualitative approach and was conducted using thematic analysis. The study population consisted of counselors working in university counseling centers. The sample included 13 counselors with experience in the field of addiction from the counseling centers of the University of Tehran, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Alzahra University, Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi University, Isfahan University of Technology, University of Isfahan, University of Tabriz, University of Gilan, University of Shiraz, and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Participants were selected using criterion-based purposive sampling. Data related to the research question were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. ▌Findings: Following interview analysis and coding, 30 sub-themes and 9 main themes were identified. These included: counselors’ attention to risk factors; raising awareness among students; raising awareness among influential individuals connected with students; preventive education; therapeutic intervention based on professional frameworks; counselors’ attention to facilitative components in prevention; the effective capacity of universities in prevention; barriers influencing counselors’ attention to prevention; and the role of community-based factors in prevention. ▌Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that although university counseling center counselors emphasize awareness-raising activities and skills training, they place greater emphasis on treatment and secondary and tertiary prevention. In the domain of primary prevention, they considered other factors to be more influential. Therefore, university counseling centers need to take more effective action in primary prevention and expand their efforts in this area. Accordingly, the development of a coherent prevention program and the organization of training courses for counselors by higher-level authorities across all universities are considered essential.