In one of my studies I showed that first-person internally focused narratives – that is, stories with a character in first person revealing their feelings, thoughts and motivations – heightened perceived dangers of prescription opioids, aroused anticipated guilt and promoted negative attitudes toward prescription opioids among the audience.
Iceland went from 42% of its 15 and 16 year olds having been drunk in the past month in 1998 to only 5% in 2018. This change is a great case study in offering alternative behaviors and shifting social norms on a national scale.
Tested is an award-winning comic book that features diverse characters affected by a broad range of health conditions and related social issues. With a touch of heart and humor, 'Tested' depicts a diverse cast of characters affected by stigma, HIV, STIs, substance use, LGBTQ+ issues, and much more.
Accurate classification of smoking status has long been regarded as an essential
prerequisite for advancing tobacco-related epidemiologic, treatment, and policy research.
However, the descriptors we commonly use to classify people who smoke may inadvertently
perpetuate harmful, stigmatizing beliefs and negative stereotypes. In recognizing the power
of words to either perpetuate or reduce stigma, Dr. Nora Volkow—Director of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse—recently highlighted the role of stigma in addiction,1
and the
movement encouraging the use of person-first language and eliminating the use of slang and
idioms when describing addiction and the people whom it affects.2,3
In this commentary, we make an appeal for researchers and clinicians to use personfirst language (e.g., “people who smoke”) rather than commonly used labels (e.g., “smokers”)
in written (e.g., in scholarly reports) and verbal communication (e.g., clinical case
presentations ) to promote greater respect and convey dignity for people who smoke. We
assert that the use of precise and bias-free language to describe people who smoke has the
potential to reduce smoking-related stigma and may enhance the precision of scientific
communication.
Changing The Narrative is a network of reporters, researchers, academics, and advocates concerned about the way media represents drug use and addiction. Our mission is to help journalists and opinion leaders provide accurate, humane, and scientifically-grounded information in this contested terrain. We offer expert sources —including people with lived experience of the issues — and up-to-date, fact-checked, and evidence-based information on news and controversies.
David Oliver wins gift cards for staying away from drugs. At St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia — which treats more overdoses than any other hospital in Canada — a program rewards users of cocaine and other stimulants with prizes when they don’t use. It’s a new approach to help substance abusers, and it’s also being tried in Veterans Affairs hospitals across the United States.
A key finding of this study was that the young women used a series of visual cues to self-identify if they had drunk too much.
“You start losing, like, your eyesight and stuff. Stuff goes blurry.”
ICE has designed a series of behavioural nudges (e.g. blurred images in toilet mirrors) that will be employed in situ at pubs and clubs to use young women’s unconscious thoughts and nudge them to self-identify that they may be approaching their limit, thus enabling them to apply drink protective behavioural strategies more proactively.
Article on how desktop demographic software can be used in the social marketing of drug abuse prevention programs from the Indiana Prevention Resource Center.
