"Accessing and Evaluating Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Resources on the Internet:
  A Primer for Faculty and Students" Monahan & Colthurst

INTRODUCTION

Since its inception in the late 1980's the World Wide Web (the Web) has in many ways transformed global communication.  Many see the Web as creating an "information revolution" that has the potential to enrich the general knowledge base, to solve important social problems, and to improve the quality of life for people, especially among developing nations.  Others are skeptical of our ability to keep the Web from becoming yet another vehicle for self-promotion, consumerism, exploitation, and criminality, with countless Web sites flooding us with inaccurate, misleading, malicious, and illicit information.

Professionals in ATOD-related fields, clients of ATOD services, and families now have access to a massive and ever-expanding amount of data about ATOD use and misuse, prevention, clinical interventions, research finds, and promising treatment practices.  The Internet and the Web have made it possible for clients to access information and to participate in discussion forums known as online support groups and listservs.  Expanding the availability of this information may serve to "empower" clients and communities to seek out further information and services and to be better informed about ATOD use and misuse issues.

Improvements in access to information may also benefit treatment professions, researchers, and policymakers.  The Web provides a portal to libraries, government agencies, and research centers to learn about late-breaking news and research findings in a fraction of the time it takes to communicate in professional journals.  The growing trend of toward online publishing will make this instantaneous communication even more prevalent in the future.  Information technology is also facilitating international collaboration efforts in prevention and research.

This online presentation will:

(1)    Describe some of the major ATOD resources on the Internet and Web;
(2)    Identify some of the ways that ATOD faculty and students can use these resources;  and
(3)    Introduce participants to the Information Quality (IQ) Tool sponsored by Mitretek to evaluate Web-based ATOD
        information.
 
 

Presentation Home Page

©1997 - This page was developed in electronic form and made available on-line by:   Genevieve Monahan, PhD, RN,CS
FIT: Faculty Integrating Technology - a program sponsored by CSULB New Media Center and the University Library.