NATIONAL SURVEY INDICATES
ANTI-DRUG MESSAGES IN THE MEDIA ARE WORKING!
by Luke Catton, Narconon Arrowhead |
Youth who reported hearing prevention messages are less likely to turn to drugs.
For many years now the anti-drug movement in America has been using Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to deliver messages on television, radio, in print media and now online about the dangers and consequences of using drugs. From Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No", to an egg in a frying pan, to funding terrorism, some of the more famous campaigns that were used did little more than create "product recognition" while others have had a huge impact on deterrence.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a report demonstrating that the vast majority of youth ages 12 to 17 (more than 20 million) are receiving drug and alcohol prevention messages through the media. The report also showed that those who have been exposed to such messages are significantly less likely to abuse drugs.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that not only are 83 percent of teens hearing these anti-drug messages, but the messages are making an impact.
The survey also indicated the crucial role parents play in keeping their children drug-free. The report stated that youth who had talked with a parent about the dangers of drug use were less likely to report past month illicit drug use than those who had not.
According to a supervisor at Narconon Arrowhead, "Communicating the truth about drugs to our nation's youth requires more than just a message. The information is best delivered by someone with real-life experience on the subject and provides something more than what they read in a health class text book." | 
Narconon graduate talking to students |
The Narconon® program has been effectively educating youth through all forms of media and live presentations for decades with hundreds of thousands of surveys showing exactly what works with kids and what they want to know.
"Many young people are told that drugs are dangerous, but not how or why," says the Narconon spokesperson. "To deter them from experimentation with these substances, it helps to project into the future what drug use leads to and to explain that none of the 23 million people in need of substance abuse treatment ever thought they would become an addict."
Though it is not likely that a single 60-second PSA will completely change someone's mind about drugs, repetition of message with insightful information can go a long way in the fight to prevent drug use. This is an important reminder as much of the nation's schools begin their fall semester this month. Our drug education website is www.drug-education.org To read the 8-article series about the results of the courses of the Narconon drug rehabilitation program go to www.narconon-news.org/results/rehab.htm Narconon International has many resources to help someone overcome drug addiction. We offer educational materials to help prevent drug abuse. For more information, visit our website at www.narconon.org. For our published materials, visit the Narconon bookstore.
© 2005. Narconon International. All Rights Reserved. Narconon is a trademark and service mark owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and is used with its permission. |
