Final answer:
The statement is true; scare tactics in advertisements and curricula can paradoxically increase drug use by glamorizing the risk involved or creating a sense of excitement about the behavior they aim to prevent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that advertisements and curricula that rely on scare tactics can actually increase drug use by making it seem exciting is true. Marketing strategies, including those for legal psychoactive drugs like alcohol, nicotine, and, depending on jurisdiction, cannabis, can manipulate consumer beliefs. Advertisements have the power to influence by creating false narratives or sensationalizing the dangers associated with drug use, leading to a heightened curiosity or perceived excitement around them. For instance, campaigns that depict drug use as daring or alluring might unintentionally glamorize the behavior they are intended to discourage.
Historical public health campaigns have used scare tactics to highlight the consequences of drug use. Take for example a 1989 poster from the CDC linking injected drug use with the serious threat of HIV infection and AIDS. Yet, such methods can sometimes backfire, as some individuals, particularly teenagers, might find the element of risk or rebellion appealing. Additionally, when people are constantly exposed to messages that generate fear without accurately representing facts or offering support and guidance, they may become desensitized to the warnings or even skeptical of the institutions presenting the information.