Media in Prevention: A three-part webinar series

Webinar 3: Using Media in Substance Misuse Prevention

August 1, 2023

Series Description

Effectively using social media platforms and being media literate is critically important in a digital age. Improving prevention practitioners’ media literacy and their use of social media platforms can enhance communication with key audiences and result in more effective prevention efforts. This three-part webinar series aims to do this by helping participants better understand core concepts such as media literacy, social media strategies, and the role of advertising in substance use, and develop skills to think critically about social media, its’ messages, and its role in prevention.

Webinar Description

Social media posts and traditional advertising about alcohol are common, and as more states legalize non-medical use of cannabis, cannabis marketing is also increasing. Many brand-generated posts and advertisements use appeals that underage individuals find interesting and attractive. In this session, we will discuss alcohol and cannabis marketing on social media and their association with outcomes related to substance use among adolescents and young adults.   

Objectives

In this webinar, participants will:

• Describe how advertising and social media are associated with alcohol and cannabis use. 
• Understand the social media landscape as it relates to alcohol and cannabis. 
• Consider the role media may play in prevention efforts related to substance misuse. 

Webinar Recording and Slides

• Media in Prevention Webinar 3: Using Media in Substance Misuse Prevention Recording
• Media in Prevention Webinar 3: Using Media in Substance Misuse Prevention Slide Deck (PDF)

Additional Resources

• WSU MAC (Media, Adolescents and Cannabis) Lab
• WSU Online Program: Murrow Health Communication and Promotion certificate program

Research Publications

• APA PsycNet: Examining science and media literacy health communication messages to reduce intentions to use cannabis while pregnant.
• Sage Research Methods: An Online Mixed-Methods Approach to Developing Narrative Health Communication Messages
• Taylor & Francis Online: The Entertainment-Education Strategy in Sexual Assault Prevention:  A Comparison of Theoretical Foundations and a Test of Effectiveness in a College Campus Setting.
• Science Direct: Do pictures help tell the story? An experimental test of narrative and emojis in a health text message intervention

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Presenters

Stacey J. T. Hust, PhD, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Operations, Professor at The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. Stacey is a health communication researcher whose work identifies effective health communication messaging that can be used to reduce substance misuse and sexual violence among young people. 

Jessica Fitts Willoughby, PhD, Associate professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University.  Jessica is a health communication researcher whose work focuses on how media, including digital media, can be used for health promotion, especially among adolescents and young adults.

Questions

Contact Britany Wiele ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.