Not the simple answer
Drug education and scaring people - does it work?
When considering the 'answers' to social problems, many people think that education is the key to addressing the problem. Surely if young people and adults could be made aware of the 'horror' of drug use, the argument goes, then they would never use them. However, 'scare' tactics in drug education and mass media campaigns have been at best ineffective and at worst have actually encouraged drug use among some people.
How is this possible? What is made to sound terrible by one person may sound attractive, exciting and appealing to others. 'Scare' tactics also frequently exaggerate the risks of drug use and may lead to a lack of credibility in the message. While drug education / prevention messages have tried various approaches (from 'scare' tactics to giving straight information on drugs in a non-moralising fashion), many researchers have argued that they have only a marginal effect on whether people start to use drugs.
If it is indeed the case that certain individuals will use / experiment with drugs irrespective of how we might portray such behaviour in drug education and in media campaigns, then policies of harm minimization appear to be the only sensible solution. Such solutions are, however, seen by many as condoning drug use, and therefore as unacceptable. Other researchers, however, argue that drug education can still be worthwhile if it is tailored to particular needs, uses appropriate teaching and learning processes and has realistic expectations in relation to effectiveness.
Please note: The Media Guide is currently being reviewed. For further information about drugs, drug use and drug related harms, you can visit DrugSearch (our online encyclopaedia of drugs). If you are a member of the press, you can contact the DrugScope Press Office at 020 7520 7563 or press@drugscope.org.uk. If you are a student, drug worker or a member of the public with questions about drugs, please contact the DrugScope Information Service on 020 7520 7550 at info@drugscope.org.uk
