Research Article, J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil Vol: 3 Issue: 3
College Student Reactions to Drug Prevention Messages
Sharon J Davis*, Amanda Burrow Barker, Asher Pimpleton and Amy Barton |
Arkansas State University, USA |
Corresponding author : Dr. Sharon J. Davis Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 1560, State University, AR 72467, USA Tel: 870-972-3064, Fax: 870-972- 3962 E-mail: sharondavis@astate.edu |
Received November 19, 2013 Accepted July 30, 2014 Published August 04, 2014 |
Citation: Davis SJ, Barker AB, Pimpleton A, Barton A (2014) College Student Reactions to Drug Prevention Messages. J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil 3:3. doi:10.4172/2324-9005.1000124 |
Abstract
College Student Reactions to Drug Prevention Messages
Advertisements through television, radio, billboards, and magazines have been used to convey anti-drug messages since the 1980s. Many of these ads have used graphic images or scare tactics in an attempt to dissuade young people from using, yet more recently, positively toned messages have become increasingly popular. Positively toned messages tend to focus on activities young people can do besides drug use. Ninety-six college undergraduates were asked to rate a series of both scare tactic or negatively toned ads and positively toned ads across three phases. Results showed the negatively toned ads were perceived as significantly more effective during all three phases of the study.