Strategic Prevention Framework
Hello everyone, I would highlight that marijuana and depression go hand in hand. If one has depression, they have a double likelihood of using marijuana compared to some who do not have depression. In the US, the use of marijuana keeps rising but is higher among depressed individuals. The increase in marijuana use is linked to the widespread legalization of the substance (Abuse, 2020). People with depression view marijuana as a substance that can help their condition or alleviate the symptoms. Still, the FDA has not approved this, and individuals should be aware of the severe repercussions that marijuana can cause to their health. For most people using marijuana worsens their depression, and some lack motivation as they find it hard to take part in daily activities that are good for them (Dierker et al., 2018).
In this case, it is vital to create awareness of the use of marijuana and the problems it results in. I would create awareness, for example, by meeting to face with the stakeholders to discuss the underlying issues. This would help the stakeholders understand how they can help those already struggling with the use of marijuana yet they are depressed hence helping the affected live everyday lives. In this case, the key stakeholders I find fundamental include educators, parents, youths, policymakers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community leaders.
I would also create awareness by hosting community events and sharing details about marijuana and depression. This is because most people in the community may not comprehend the intensity of the topic until enough information is passed to them. I would discuss the harms resulting from using marijuana when one has depression. This would help people now that using marijuana is not a permanent remedy for depression. Instead, it is a temporal solution that makes one forget about their challenges for some time only (Bahorik et al., 2018). During the community events, I would allow people to ask different questions to help them understand the depth of the issue. For example, one would question what amount of marijuana is wrong for a person suffering from depression. In this case, I would tackle such a question by answering that once one has a condition like depression, triggering it should be avoided as this prolongs the symptoms and delays healing.
I would also raise awareness by sharing information on different social media platforms and outlets. Nowadays, most people are versed in the use of technology. Most people can access different information on their electronic gadgets; hence, it would be an aid in creating awareness for the stakeholders and create readiness while addressing the issue of marijuana and depression through sharing vital details online. The information I could share includes the effects of marijuana, how it accelerates depression, and strategies for curbing the menace. This would help different stakeholders know how to deal with the problem that communes are on the rise every day in society.
I would encourage the stakeholders to sign up for different social media platforms such as Facebook. Instagram, among many others. In some cases, I could try to use even visual aids to help the targeted people understand the issue’s intensity. Using an online strategy to reach people is commendable, as many are always on their gadgets. Thus they are likely to come across some vital information on marijuana and depression either intentionally p unintentionally. Also, there is the option of sharing information one reads online. Thus, different stakeholders who have taken the role of ensuring that they curb the rampant use of marijuana, for example, among youths such as community officials, can share the information with youth in their areas to help educate them on the issues.
I would also equip the stakeholders with viral material that they can share with people in their areas. Such material would include pamphlets and magazines that illustrate the adverse outcomes of using marijuana and how it worsens one state of depression. In most cases, people tend to learn when presented with visual diagrams. In this case, I could ensure that the magazines I give them have pictures of people who have been affected by the use of marijuana and how some have acquired other mental conditions due to the continuous use of marijuana. The use of visual aid impacts people’s minds, and one tends not to quickly father what they saw, unlike what they read.
Equipping the stakeholders with such materials would make them ready to face the underlying problem hence helping society reduce the dependence on marijuana. Also, when stakeholders have the necessary materials, they will tend to first go through the materials before educating the public. I understand that it is essential to present evidence of what one aims to educate the public about. In this case, I