Introduction
Marijuana use can have a variety of negative outcomes, including addiction, disrupted brain function and an elevated potential for mental health concerns. In order to prevent teenagers from using marijuana, an awareness campaign is needed to educate them about the dangers of drug use and promote healthy habits. Thus, it is essential to provide ideas for an awareness campaign against the use of marijuana that has a chance to attract the attention of adolescents.
Overview
Marijuana is a psychoactive substance obtained from the cannabis plants, and it is the most widely available illicit drug for adolescents. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2020, approximately 9.4% of 8th graders, 22.7% of 10th graders, and 33.7% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year (Scheier & Griffin, 2021, p. 12). There are various possible causes for adolescents to consume marijuana, including peer pressure, curiosity, stress, and a willingness to explore drug addiction. Consequently, the challenge of marijuana abuse is growing in teenagers.
Creating an information campaign to discourage juvenile marijuana abuse can be approached using the principles of behavioral theory, which suggests that behavior is learned through the environment and the consequences of that behavior. It is important to note that, based on behavioral theory, media companies can use incentives and rewards for positive behavior. This can be an important method of encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. For instance, schools and social organizations can acknowledge and reward adolescents who attend drug-free activities and display affirmative parenting behaviors (Scheier & Griffin, 2021). Media campaigns can also highlight the harmful impacts of marijuana consumption. These include legal consequences and the risk of addiction, which can serve as a discouragement for adolescents considering marijuana use.
Moreover, based on behavioral theory, it is crucial to model healthy behavior. In other words, information drives should address avoiding marijuana use and encourage healthy solutions for managing stress and behavioral issues. Teenagers are often strongly influenced by their peers, so it is important to promote positive peer relationships and educate them about the risks of marijuana use. This can incorporate peer-led education efforts or group activities that facilitate healthy habits and positive social relationships (Scheier & Griffin, 2021). Additionally, teenagers are often strongly influenced by their friends; therefore, developing supportive friendships with adolescents and raising awareness of the dangers involved with marijuana use is crucial. This can encompass campaigns that educate peers or group interactions that facilitate healthy choices and positive interactions with their social networks.
Foundational Theory
Behavioral theory is a psychological perspective that highlights the observation study of behavior and its interaction with environmental variables, such as support and retribution. It assumes that behavior is acquired through experience and that humans can be educated to adjust their conduct by modifying their surroundings. Behavioral theory implies that conduct is learned through the environment and the outcomes of activities (Lester, 2019). Behavioral theory can be employed by concentrating on changing the environmental drivers and outcomes connected to marijuana use to decrease the chance that teenagers will be involved in this specific offense.
Research Method and Findings
Crano et al. (2017) conducted a study where 663 students viewed advertisements demonstrating the negative consequences of marijuana use. After watching three advertisements, they were surveyed about how the content impacted their conduct. The results of the study showed that students were more receptive to the information where adults clearly and moderately communicated the dangers of marijuana. On the other hand, Crano et al. (2017) found that adolescents believed stories about the dangers of marijuana from their counterparts who had negative experiences with it to be truthful. Consequently, it is essential to communicate information about marijuana objectively in order to gain adolescents’ trust and prevent them from using the drug.
There was also a study by Alvaro et al. (2013) that investigated the relationship between adolescent marijuana use and viewing of anti-drug television advertisements. They categorized almost 3000 participants into users, determined users, and vulnerable users, which allowed them to obtain results for different types of people. Therefore, participants who were vulnerable or long-term marijuana users reported continued use one year after the study. Instead, the percentage of regular users decreased among those who continued to use marijuana (Alvaro et al., 2013). This suggests that particularly vulnerable groups need more information to cope with the factors that drive their consumption.
Mental Health and Well-Being
Marijuana consumption through adolescence can affect psychological well-being through alterations in conduct. A study has suggested that marijuana use can affect brain function during a time of rapid growth and change, causing long-term damage to brain activity and performance. One of the major mental health consequences of marijuana use is the higher potential for anxiety and depression (Scheier & Griffin, 2021). Marijuana use can alter the chemical structure of the brain, which leads to changes in attitudes and personality. In addition, people with a previous history of mental illness or who are genetically susceptible to these diseases may be at greater danger of experiencing the adverse impacts of cannabis consumption. Marijuana use can also worsen memory, focus, and study ability, which can reduce academic success and motivation (Scheier & Griffin, 2021). Furthermore, marijuana use is addictive, and teenage use increases the risk of addiction.
Conclusion
Thus, an informational campaign is needed to prevent adolescent marijuana consumption. Overall, by applying the principles of behavioral theory, an awareness campaign to control teenagers from abusing marijuana can create a comprehensive approach to drug prevention and help teenagers make healthier choices. In applying the principles of behavioral theory, an information campaign to discourage juvenile marijuana use can create a comprehensive approach to substance abuse prevention and help adolescents make healthier choices.
References
Alvaro, E. M., Crano, W. D., Siegel, J. T., Hohman, Z., Johnson, I., & Nakawaki, B. (2013). Adolescents’ attitudes toward antimarijuana ads, usage intentions, and actual marijuana usage. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(4), 1027‒1035. Web.
Crano, W. D., Alvaro, E. M., Tan, C. N., & Siegel, J. T. (2017). Social mediation of persuasive media in adolescent substance prevention. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31(4), 479-487. Web.
Lester, D. (2019). Theories of personality: A systems approach. Routledge.
Scheier, L. M., & Griffin, K. W. (2021). Youth marijuana use: A review of causes and consequences. Current Opinion in Psychology, 38, 11-18. Web.