ABSTRACT
Adolescents face many risks in the form of substance abuse, tobacco use, alcohol abuse, social media issues, STDs, obesity, etc., often intertwined with daily stressors, mental health challenges, and/or long-term addiction. Although the source of many of these risks can be debated, preventive education certainly trumps long-term addiction, enforcement, and lost opportunities for youth. The research shows the quitting thoughts for adolescent smokers exposed to graphic health warnings (GHWs) are primarily driven by evoked fear, whereas for young adult smokers, it is primarily due to negative health beliefs. Message content and imagery can be an issue in effectiveness as well. For instance, fear appeal themes and strength levels depend on the audience, as well as whether a solution is offered to aid self-efficacy. The right delivery modes for an adolescent audience can help with message effectiveness. Certainly, prevention education, warnings and disclosures can be effective in reducing adolescent risk taking, but only if done with some careful planning.
