- Above the Influence
Above the Influence is an
advertising campaign in theUnited States by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign that advocates againstrecreational drug use , focusing explicitly oncannabis use by Americanteenager s. The program's primary medium istelevision advertisement s, but it also makes use of others such as onlineweb banner s.Criticism
Some of Above the Influence's methods of relaying its message to the audience have come under question by some. This may be due to Above the Influence's often heavy reliance on fictional stories to advocate it's purpose, which some feel unfairly demonize cannabis users.who
Paul Armentano , Deputy Director ofNORML wrote an article about Stoners in the Mist [ [http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/stoners/] ] , a recent ad campaign. Funded by theOffice of National Drug Control Policy , the campaign feature cannabis users unable to perform even the most basic tasks such as moving, talking, bathing, and even recalling one's own name. Armentano has called the films "offensive" and "derogatory" for the use of stereotypes and quiz "chock-full of disinformation." [Amentano, Paul: "Must Not See TV: Stoners in the Mist", page 18. "High Times", September 2008.]National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported federal anti-drug ads as ineffective, often causing increased drug use [ [http://www.nida.nih.gov/DESPR/Westat/] ] . In addition many ad campaigns are very expensive. The Office of National Drug Control has spent 1.5 billion and plans to spend another 1.3 billion by 2010. [ [http://www.house.gov/pence/rsc/doc/RSC_Budget_Options_2005.pdf] ]Students for Sensible Drug Policy , which focuses onharm reduction , opposes federal Anti-Drug ads and details the increasing problems with the campaign [ [http://ssdp.org/campaigns/ads/legislative.shtml#_ftn2] .ee also
*
Cannabis
*War on Drugs
*NORML
*TheTruth.com References
External links
* [http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ Official website]
* [http://communityleader.mainetoday.com/story.html?ID=977/ Above the influence: Harsh messages aim to steer students away from drugs and alcohol, By Avery Yale Kamila]
* [http://www.abovetheignorance.org/ Above the Ignorance]
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