AD CAMPAIGN SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO TEENS

Apparently anti-drug campaigns on television are effective among teen-agers
and children if they watch them often enough. Some are extremely effective
because of the emotional message they deliver, such as one featuring a
young man visiting the site where his brother was killed by a driver under
the influence of marijuana. Another commercial shows parents talking about
the number of times their dead daughter took Ecstasy.

And, how many of us can forget the ad used a few years ago showing an egg
splashing on the sidewalk with someone in the background explaining that's
what happens to the brain of a person who abuses drugs?

Strong messages not only tug at the heartstrings of parents and
grandparents who are concerned about the changes in the world teens face
today, they also reach the teens and affect their lifestyles, for which we
are thankful.

A survey of teens conducted for the Partnership for a Drug Free America
found adolescents and teens who see or hear anti-drug ads at least once a
day are less likely to do drugs than youngsters who don't see or hear ads
frequently.

That tells us the anti-drug commercials are worth the cost, time and effort.

The survey said teens who absorb the warnings about the dangers of smoking
pot or taking Ecstasy are persuaded to stay away from drugs.

The report indicated teens who got a daily dose of the anti-drug message
were nearly 40 percent less likely to try methamphetamine and about 30
percent less likely to use Ecstasy. When questioned about marijuana,
teen-agers who said they saw the ads regularly were nearly 15 percent less
likely to smoke pot.

The partnership produces most of the anti-drug messages for the White
House. During recent years, they have taken a stronger, more definitive
route explaining to teen-agers what the consequences of drugs can be to
them and their friends.

Obviously it's working - and saving lives.