ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN USES A TIRED, FAILED POLICY

The Partnership for a Drug Free America's latest campaign is a war being
waged with images rather than research and style instead of substance.
Senior editor David Kiley of Brandweek, a trade advertising industry
newspaper, stated that this particular campaign by the Partnership invested
virtually no money researching the issue. Mr. Kiley also pointed out that
campaigns of such high importance ought to have more, not less scientific
data on drug use and its consequences. Mr. Kiley received a barrage of
criticism for his comments on this sacred cash cow.

The U.S. Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that while drug use in
general was declining, it was increasing among teens. These are the same
kids raised on those images of fried eggs in the pan. Now the PDFA is
serving America with a new menu with the same message. The same Madison
Avenue message that failed in the '80s has a new face in the '90s. The only
difference is, this menu is costing the taxpayer $2 billion dollars. Also
the most widely illegal drug abused by teenagers, alcohol, is absent from
this PDFA campaign.

Why couldn't our federal tax dollars be spent on educational programs with
a proven track record? If this expenditure falls under the guise of drug
education, then our elected officials are the ones who have some learning
to do. The public ought to hold them accountable for applying the same
tired, failed policy and expecting a different result.

WILLIAM AIKEN, JR. Reconsider: Forum On Drug Policy, Albany Chapter

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski