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Start Talking!
Know! To Focus
on Positive Prevention Strategies
11/9/2016
As a parent or other caring adult, when we look to prevent or change
particular behaviors in children, we sometimes do so by attempting to
instill fear (scare tactics). When it comes to anti-substance use scare
tactics, messages delivered may go something like this:
• See that mock crash, if you drink and drive, you will crash and you
will die.
• Were you listening to the story that family told about their child’s
drug overdose? If you take those pills, you will end up the same way as
that child.
• Look at those awful pictures of meth users. That is what happens when
people use meth.
• It is amazing that man is even alive to testify after his long and
dreadful ordeal with drugs.
The above statements are true. Drinking and driving causes deaths.
Taking drugs, whether in pill form or otherwise, causes overdoses. Meth
users do have a distinctive appearance from long periods of heavy use.
Hearing a former drug user tell his/her story of hitting rock bottom,
then bouncing back in life, stirs emotions and inspires. While such
tactics certainly work to get most children’s attention, frighten them
and evoke fear, the bigger question is, does it work to prevent or
change behavior?
Prevention experts say “no,” and here’s why:
Youth are hardwired to defend against negative messaging: When the
outcome doesn’t always match the message being delivered to them, they
may discount it. “My friend took those same pills to get high many
times and he’s just fine,” or, “I know a girl who uses meth and she
doesn’t look like those people.”
Young people filter information differently than adults: Most adults
filter information using logic and rational thinking. Most teens, on
the other hand, are naturally driven to engage in riskier, more
impulsive behavior. Blame it partially on the adolescent brain,
specifically the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of the brain
responsible for controlling impulses, exercising judgment and
decision-making; it is not fully developed until a person’s
mid-twenties.
High-risk youth can be more attracted to risky behavior: Some youth are
wired more strongly for sensation-seeking and are more impulsive
risk-takers. Present such a youth with the chance to rebel by getting
drunk or high and he/she may see it as thrill-seeking opportunity. The
better approach here is to deliver a positive message about non-use, so
as not to give a child something to rebel against.
Strong warnings can send unintended messages: Overwhelming negative
attention focused on anti-use may unintentionally send the message to
children that it is a widespread problem and everyone must be doing it.
Such misinterpretation leads to youth believing alcohol and drug use is
the norm, that their peers are using, and that peers would be accepting
of their choice to use.
POSITIVE PREVENTION STRATEGIES: When it comes to preventing alcohol,
tobacco and other drug use, you are encouraged to focus efforts on
teaching children what TO do, instead of what NOT to do, and reminding
them regularly that the majority of youth do not use. Research shows
that parents and other caring adults can have the greatest impact on
young lives by guiding them to make positive decisions, showing them
healthy ways to cope, teaching them important resistance skills, and
then giving them the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned.
Learn how to get the conversation started at StartTalking.Ohio.Gov.
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