NURS2172: Analysis of a Drug Awareness Campaign Report

This report analyzes the 'Drug Aware' campaign, launched in Australia, targeting aboriginal youth aged 12-25, aiming to raise awareness about drug use and provide support. The campaign utilizes various strategies including TV advertisements and helpline numbers. The report discusses drug addiction as a chronic and relapsing disease, outlining treatment options such as therapy, counseling, and detoxification. It highlights the effectiveness of the campaign through free health checkups, volunteer services, and partnerships with government agencies, noting a reduction in drug addiction among aboriginal communities. The report also emphasizes the role of community involvement and the importance of a multi-faceted approach, including youth engagement and public awareness initiatives, to combat drug-related issues and promote a healthier society.

Health Promotion Campaign

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Description..................................................................................................................................................3
Drug and treatment option.........................................................................................................................4
Effectiveness of the Campaigning................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................5

Introduction
Drugs which are supposed to be used for medicinal purposes are increasingly being used for
intoxication. The whole world is facing problems like drug trafficking, distribution etc. This
article is concerned with antidrug campaigns which aim for the well-being of the society and free
health programs which help to control the drug related issues.This study will describe the
essential features, treatment option and target audience of Drug Aware program. The
effectiveness of this campaigning will also be discussed in this study.
Description
It is important to develop drug-awareness program to ensure healthy wellbeing of drug-affected
population. The name of the drug awareness program is ‘’Drug aware’’.This program was
launched in Australia.The people involved in this campaign took up the responsibility of
attending to drug affected individuals. Their target group consists of aboriginal youth aged from
12-25 years. The anti-drug group runs campaigns which include ‘strong spirit strong Mind
Metro’; ‘Meth can take control’, ‘The Medix’ and ‘Real Facts’ ("Meth Can Take Control",
2019).
The group also runs TV advertisements in an attempt to reach out to maximum people of the
society and spread awareness about the use of drugs and other intoxicating products. Youth and
Parent programs are being run with the help the government agencies. Schools and collegesare
easily influenced by the drug traffickers because of the immaturity of the students. Youth
population is the soft target of drug dealers.The “Drug Aware” group also runs help line numbers
which are available round the clock for anyone in need of assistance. If anyone feels ashamed to
talk about the issue, he/she can call the helpline numbers, share their feelings and ask for help.
The group also maintains databases to track the record and improvement of the patient in the
future. It provides full support and guidance while maintaining privacy ("Meth Can Take
Control", 2019).

Drug and treatment option
Drug addiction is a chronic disease. The behavior of the drug addict can change abruptlyand
theirreactions may be repulsive and uncontrollable. This is also called behavioral disorder. Drug
addiction is also called relapse diseases which again affect the body and weaken the thinking and
controlling power of brain after the addict is cured ("Understanding Drug Use and Addiction",
2018). If a drug addict gains access to the drug again it can become hard to resist it. The patients
who are releasedfrom the rehabilitation center after they are curedare not fully secure as drug
addiction has a high possibility of relapse("Drug addiction (substance use disorder) - Symptoms
and causes", 2019).
Scientists have researched and developed severalnew techniques and medicines to cure a drug
addict. According to them, drug addiction is a complex but treatable condition. Thetreatment can
vary from person to person. Drug addiction affects brain and behavior, nervousness, depression,
low/high blood pressure may occur. This can damage the nervous system of the addict.The
earlier the treatment is given to the patient; the greater are the chances of recovery. It is very
important to receive early medical attention and treatment because addictiondamages the body
with passage of time (Legg, 2019).
Other treatment methods like therapy session’s andcounseling are widely used by the
government and medical officials. As treatment varies from person to person, counseling
sessions enable doctors to identify the needs of the patient and plan the treatment process
accordingly. The treatment and counseling sessions are then modified accordingly or step by
step. During treatment detoxification from the body and diverting the mind towards motivation is
given the greatest priority (Pagliarini, Shao & Sellers, 2015).

Effectiveness of the Campaigning
Many doctors and healthcare providers are volunteering for free for the eradication of drug
addiction in that Drug Aware campaign. Free health checkups and treatment camps are
conducted in schools and colleges or in remote areas. Different types of tests are conducted like
blood tests, hepatitis B/c, HIV/AIDS. Various non-governmental bodies and volunteers have
extended their supporting hand for this program the services of these volunteers have effectively
reduced drug-related issues in the society through awareness programs and drug de-addiction
campaigns ("Drug Types", 2019). This program can also help to eliminate drug trafficking,
violence and other drug-related crimes with the help of the police and government. The
aboriginal communityareaswhich are most vulnerable to drug abuse include small towns,
villages, schools and colleges.These places are usually targeted by the drug mafia (Ralston,
2019). The difficulties may be because of illiteracy, poverty and inadequate knowledge about
drugs and drug addiction. Through effectivecampaigning, establishment of rehabilitation
centersand proper advertising, a successful attempt has been made to address these concerns. It
benefits the victims who are in the early stages of addiction as well as those who are completely
trapped. Currently, the “Drug Aware” campaign is being run by concerns that are helping to
reach out to those who are greatly in need of support.This has helped to reduce the drug
addiction among the aboriginal communities by 0.25%.The victims are being involvedin sports,
arts or music so that they can overcome the addiction and the depression resulting from it ("The
Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction - Alta Mira Recovery", 2019).
Conclusion
As the society includes both positivity and negativity, it is essential to contribute towards a more
optimistic and healthy society. It is very important for the intellectuals, governments and
individuals to contribute towards the well-being of drug-addicts. All this can be done

throughmonetary contributions, active volunteering or by providing facilities. Drug trafficking is
one of the major global issues. Corrupt politicians, policemen, health departments and other
public sectors are infected by drug trafficking. The reason may bewealth, political mileage or
power. The Drug aware program has played significant role in improving the healthcare of drug
addicts. So it is every individual’s duty to participate for the noble cause through campaigning,
fundraising or by spreading awareness through awareness programs. Involvement of youth
canhelp to eradicate most issues because they belong to the age of the internetwhere a YouTube
video can also make a difference. One can simply provide free acknowledgement and can
conduct wellness programs by making and uploading videos on internet. By participating and
giving an effort like Drug Aware group will definitely make the difference.

Reference
Drug addiction (substance use disorder) - Symptoms and causes. (2019). Retrieved 24 August
2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-
causes/syc-20365112
Legg, T. (2019). Addiction treatment: First steps, types, and medications. Retrieved 24 August
2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323468.php
Pagliarini, R., Shao, W., & Sellers, W. (2015). Oncogene addiction: pathways of therapeutic
response, resistance, and road maps toward a cure. EMBO Reports, 16(3), 280-296. doi:
10.15252/embr.201439949
Ralston, N. (2019). How we became a soft target for the world's drug lords. Retrieved 24 August
2019, from https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2017/how-sydneys-drug-lords-went-
global/
The Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction - Alta Mira Recovery. (2019). Retrieved 24 August
2019, from https://www.altamirarecovery.com/drug-addiction/causes-effects-drug-
addiction/
Drug Types. (2019). Retrieved 24 August 2019, from https://drugaware.com.au/getting-the-
facts/drug-types/
Meth Can Take Control. (2019). Retrieved 24 August 2019, from
https://drugaware.com.au/about-us/current-campaigns/meth-can-take-control/
Understanding Drug Use and Addiction. (2018). Retrieved 24 August 2019, from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction