Understanding Attitude Change in Developing Effective Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Adolescents.

Abstract

For many adolescents, the use of alcohol causative factor. But most addiction re and other drugs is a significant part of their searchers have moved away from linear high school experience. Although for many etiologic theories, and now view addiction the use of alcohol and other drugs, that is, as a biopsychosocial phenomenon, deter substance abuse, is often time-limited bemined by the interaction of physiological, havior, for others more significant and enpsychological, and environmental or social during reasons for abuse exist. Emotional factors (Donovan, 1988); both biological stress, low self-esteem, and identity conand nonbiological factors are seen as essen fusion often lead to increased vulnerability tial ingredients of addiction (Peele, 1985). to peer influence (Johnson, Bachman, & Within this biopsychosocial context, one's CXMalley, 1991). Additionally, limited or attitudes, which are born of the psychological distorted knowledge about alcohol and and social influences in one's life, cannot be other drugs as well as a family history of ignored substance abuse all affect adolescents' atAttitudes are important determinants of titudes about and use of alcohol and other ^ behaviors a n chooses. They rep_ drugs. Although most adolescents are vulresent ,obal ^ dispositions toward nerable to the convergence of these ena object, or issue (Cacioppo, Claiborn, vironmental and emotional stressors, the pe & Heesackel/ 1991). Studies of impact can be especially devastating to motivation (Dickinson & Dearing/ as dted those who are not emotionally equipped to . c , . „ , cope effectively with the diverseandrapid & ' k Vo^T^' , r , J , . . , , t (Osgood, Sua, T Zajonc, 1980). Although other factors such Cynthia G. Scott is an assistant professor in the . , , „ * , , ,IT ... „ . as soaal norms and personality can also Department of Health Sciences, University of North , , . ... /T.. ., . . .. Florida, Jacksonville. Correspondence regarding this determine behaviors (Fishbein & Ajzen, article should be sent to Cynthia G. Scott, Depart1975), attitudes and attitude changes are ment of Health Sciences, University of North Florida, important because, they can influence not 4567 St. John's Bluff Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224. only how people construe their world, but