Many current programs in drug education are not based on sound social psychological principles; consequently, program effectiveness has been very mixed. This report presents an experimental study in which changes in marijuana attitudes and smoking intentions were attempted using the formal communication approach. Using this study as an example, problems and issues relevant to drug education are discussed, centered around the basic question “Who says what to whom with what effect?” Several “currently useful generalizations” derived from past research and the present study are suggested.
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