Troubled Teens Resources

Teen crisis intervention campaigns mounted in the form of public service ads have given the anti-drug activists a few slogans; “Just say no” and “Your brain on drugs” are familiar admonitions, but are they effective?

A piece on Slate.com that reviews the newest release of anti-drug ads directed at troubled teenagers and suggests that this new approach might be more effective.

The author’s point is that drug ads or warnings that depend on overkill are likely to be scoffed at and dismissed. Though the author’s sentiments seem to be rather casual about marijuana use, his points are on the mark. There are not a lot of ravaged looking pot smokers, such as there are junkies or meth heads. To suggest that pot is just as lethal as those decidedly more dangerous drugs further alienates teenagers and just doesn’t sell.

On the other hand, if you “say it like it is”, such as the new campaign does, at risk teens can make decisions based on the realities presented.

“Finally, an admission that using pot isn’t necessarily calamitous. It’s possible we’re seeing this about-face only because previous scare-tactic ads were recently proved to increase drug use. But either way, I applaud the new, more truthful strategy. Lying is never what you want from your government (even if you’ve grown accustomed to it).
[..]

In this context, “Pete’s Couch” is a work of bracing honesty. Other spots in the ongoing “Above the Influence” campaign have been unawful, too. In “Whatever,” a straight-edge kid talks about chaperoning his stoned friends around, acting as designated driver.. The point is that this kid makes his own decisions and chooses to stay off drugs even though his friends are getting high… the ad is done in a low-key, nonhyperbolic way…it seems to say it’s OK to be friends with pot smokers (instead of instantly calling the cops on them, as past ads might have recommended).”

(Source)
H/T: Livonia Save Our Youth