Influence of Anti-Substance Advertisements On Users

Abstract

Smoking is considered a burning issue of today's time, especially due to its widespread use despite compelling proof of health hazards. Smoking has also significantly increased among youth in the past 10 years as they are more vulnerable to peer and societal pressure. Anti-smoking advertisements (e.g., print-based ads on cigarette packets, media ads on television, etc.) rely heavily on emotional reasoning to persuade people not to smoke. Still, the effect of anti-smoking advertisements on smokers is yet to be understood. Hence, this research aims to determine the influence of anti-smoking advertisements on smokers. To achieve this aim, our objectives assessed were the role of anti-smoking advertisements on quit attempts made in the past, reduction in smoking habits, and willingness of an individual to quit smoking. The cigarette was chosen as the substance for this study due to its popularity. The study findings revealed that over 64% of respondents who have made quit attempts in the past year believed that anti-smoking advertisements had played a crucial role in their quit attempts. A similar association was exhibited by the respondents who reduced smoking in the past year. While most smokers in the study revealed the role of anti-smoking advertisements in their smoking change habits, a section continues to smoke even after awareness of anti-smoking advertisements. The unequal pace of decline in smoking is shifting the focus towards the need to improve the effectiveness of anti-substance advertisements through innovation and technology, thus resulting in a higher reduction rate of substance use.