Shock tactics don’t work in drug education campaigns

Advertising campaigns that sensationalise the health risks of methamphetamine addiction tend to alienate and stigmatise users, rather than influencing them to seek professional medical help, researchers have found.

A project involving staff from three universities in Western Australia and Victoria looked at methamphetamine studies conducted in Australia, China, South Africa, the United Sates and the UK.

They found the most common barriers to meth or “ice” addicts seeking help were shame and embarrassment, belief that treatment was not necessary, avoiding social contact due to drug use, and privacy concerns.