DRUGS AND AIDS - REACHING FOR HELP - A VIDEOTAPE ON AIDS AND DRUG-ABUSE PREVENTION FOR CRIMINAL-JUSTICE POPULATIONS

This article describes the development of a videotape targeted at pers ons under supervision of the criminal justice system. The videotape se eks to encourage those who use illicit drugs to enter drug treatment a nd to motivate those at risk for exposure to human immunodeficiency vi rus (HIV) to alter behaviors that may transmit infection. The criminal justice system presents an important opportunity to deliver such mess ages, particularly to a large population of persons briefly detained i n a jail or lockup and released without subsequent incarceration. Evid ence suggests that, even in this audience, knowledge of how to prevent exposure to HIV is widespread, yet those at risk often fail to take a ppropriate precautions: motivating behavior change demands more than i mparting information. In order to shape this videotape, we analyzed th e target audience and developed a drama-based approach that applies th e framework of social learning theory, the health belief model, and pr inciples of social marketing. This article describes the integration o f that theoretical framework into the production process, content, and strategy of the videotape.