Selling Skills

The In DEPTH program recognizes that many students learn best through active participation. By using the business and marketing methodologies of the pharmaceutical industry the program trains teachers in the methods of "selling" anti drug messages. Teachers are given tools to handle objections (messages given by participants contrary to the healthful and correct information given by the teacher), and how to engage the student in a dialogue that ultimately ends in a commitment to not start, reduce, suspend, or quit their drug use or drug dealing activities.

By using business and marketing techniques, teachers effectively respond to and refute pro-drug messages. Students learn to analyze media and commercial advertisements, and identify advertising techniques and targeted media messages to specific demographics. Discussion of film, print ads, and other forms of mass media, allows students to investigate how pro-drug messages are targeted to young adults.

Training students in "Selling Skills" can take students from resisting peer pressure and saying "no" to drugs, to "selling" their peers on why they shouldn't use drugs. The student can acquire the skills to create an atmosphere where drug use is not acceptable, and assist their friends in quitting drug use.