Preventing Youth from Driving High

Abstract

This paper investigates best theories and practices in the context of youth drug driving and describes initiatives aiming to decrease the incidence of youth driving high. Secondary data searches and content analysis of existent campaigns is conducted. Findings show that most initiatives properly use fear tactics and attempt to make youth feel that the issue is severe and that they are vulnerable to the negative consequences of driving high. Initiatives can become more effective if they provide specific and easy-to-follow recommendations of how to abstain from driving high, help young people abstain from driving high, make them feel that they can abstain from driving high, and showing how following the recommendations would succeed in preventing accidents. Implications and suggestions are discussed.