TOY STORE'S AD RANKLES DRUG FOES

WASHINGTON -- A Toys "R" Us television commercial that featured the
company's mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe, inhaling helium from a balloon has
drawn the ire of anti-drug advocates who say the ad sends a dangerous
message to children. "Any portrayal of inhalant use is bad, especially when
we're reaching out to younger children who are at most risk of abusing
inhalants," Charles Curie, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, said Friday.

According to a 2002 Monitoring the Future Study, 15.2 percent of
eighth-graders have used inhalants in their lifetime.

The ad campaign has finished its rotation and will not be introduced, Toys
"R" Us spokeswoman Susan McLaughlin said in a statement.

"Toys "R" Us takes the safety of our guests very seriously," McLaughlin
said. "We would never encourage any behavior that would be dangerous in any
way."

Inhaling helium has the effect of distorting the human voice. It also can
displace oxygen in the blood and lead to unconsciousness and, in rare
occasions, death.

Advocates also are concerned about the portrayal of "huffing" helium in
other commercials, television shows and movies.

"The ingestion of helium is dangerous," and has resulted in deaths, said
Harvey Weiss, executive director of the National Inhalant Prevention
Coalition, a federally funded organization.