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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Feb 14.
Published in final edited form as: Health Commun. 2013 Aug 27;28(7):683–695. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2012.762827
Strategy Frequency,
number (%)
Description Examples
Fear 33 (48.5) Emphasizes risk of death/injury/punishment/illness
 to self, visual of arrest, accident, ambulance,
 hospital or a symbolic representation of loss,
 injury or death.
(Poster) Picture of drug user in jail with text
 “Doesn’t he look REAL cool?”
(Radio) “That stuff is nasty for you. It could ruin
 your whole life like bad grades or no college.”
Identity 33 (48.5) Focuses on establishing a nonuse identity (i.e.,
 communicating a personal, relational, or social
 identity that prohibits substance use).
(Video)
Smoking peer says, “You wanna smoke a this?”
 Refusing peer says, “No. I’m not into that kind
 of stuff.”
Rational 32 (47.1) Advocates analytical thinking and decision making. (Poster) “Avoid! Don’t go if you think it’s a bad
 idea.”
(Poster) “It’s your decision. Choose wisely.”
Modeling 17 (25.0) Demonstrates people enacting nonuse behavior. (Video)
Refusing peer (RP): “What is that?”
Drinking peer (DP): “Vodka, want some?”
RP: “What?? No!” […]
Negative consequences 33 (48.5) Depicts the act of using drugs as undesirable. (Video)
“EW! He’s smoking! Ugh! Gross!”
Peer pressure 28 (41.2) Portrays interpersonal encounters in which an
 individual resists an attempt by another to
 influence his or her perspective or behavior.
(Video) In response to a refusal to smoke…
Smoking peer, “Oh are you kidding? You’d look
 cool like me!”
Refusing peer, “No.”
SP: “It’s like heaven in a stick.”
Goal achievement 22 (32.4) Evokes positive emotions about the present or goals
 for the future (e.g., avoiding drugs to do well in
 sports or go to college).
(Poster) “___ Middle School: Not Afraid to be
 Healthy, Happy and Drug FREE!!” Displays
 pictures of groups of students having fun and
 doing extracurricular activities.