HALLUCINATING ABOUT DRUG ADS

The clear-headed Government Accountability Office has confirmed what
most of us could have guessed: Advertising doesn't deter kids from
taking illegal drugs.

In fact, according to an independent study, in some cases the ads
increase drug use.

Similar findings have debunked the popular DARE program, in which
law-enforcement officers visit schools.

Given the federal government's incredible debts, you might assume
that the Bush administration and Congress would be delighted to stop
spending money - on top of the $1.2 billion they've squandered on
such feel-good ads since 1998.

But you probably would be wrong. Politicians want voters to believe
that they know what to do about problems, and are doing it.

Anti-drug ads might do no good. They might, in fact, do harm.

But if politicians have no real answer to deterring drug use, they'll
give us a phony answer.

Or as the ads might put it: This is your congressman. This is your
congressman on the campaign trail.