Drugs and AIDS: Reaching for Help; A Videotape on AIDS and Drug Abuse Prevention for Criminal Justice Populations

The criminal justice system presents an important opportunity to deliver such messages, particularly to a large population of persons briefly detained in a jail or lockup and released without subsequent incarceration. Evidence suggests that, even in this audience, knowledge of how to prevent exposure to HIV is widespread; yet those at risk often fail to take appropriate precautions. Motivating behavioral change demands more than imparting information. To shape this videotape, the developers analyzed the target audience and developed a drama- based approach that applies the framework of social learning theory, the health belief model, and principles of social marketing. This article describes the integration of that theoretical framework into the production process, content, and strategy of the videotape. 48 references