Public Service Advertisements

Is Truth a Casualty of the Drug War?

The Public Service Advertisements below ran from 1999 to 2007, focusing on misinformation in the drug war.

The Common Sense public information campaign carefully quoted credible research and leading authorities so as to provide the public with reliable information and to better inform the debate on drug policy. CSDP's PSAs ran in Reason, The American Prospect, The National Review, The Nation, The New Republic, and The Progressive.

Please note: These PSAs may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission and with or without attribution provided the meaning is faithfully maintained.

072	Why Not Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol?	"Why Not Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol?" This PSA explores several reasons why marijuana should be regulated and taxed as well as the real reason it has been illegal since the 1930s. A camera-ready copy of this PSA is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
071	Is It Sound Policy To Jail Expectant Mothers?	Is It Sound Policy To Jail Expectant Mothers For Substance Abuse And Take Away Their Babies? This PSA contains excerpts from an article by Barry Lester, PhD, of Brown University, originally published in the Harm Reduction Journal in April 2004. A camera-ready copy of this PSA is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
070	Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) Video	A riveting 12-minute documentary exposes what law enforcement officials really think about drug prohibition. Walter Cronkite said of this video about Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), "Anyone concerned about the failure of our $69 billion-a-year War on Drugs should watch this 12-minute program. You will meet front line, ranking police officers who give us a devastating report on why it cannot work. It is a must-see for any journalist or public official dealing with this issue." A camera-ready copy of this PSA is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
069	Mexico Is Becoming The Next Colombia	"Mexico Is Becoming The Next Colombia." Mexico is a major source of heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine for the U.S. market as well as the principal transit and distribution point for cocaine coming in from South America. For years, people both inside and outside Mexico have worried that the country might descend into the maelstrom of corruption and violence that has long plagued the chief drug-source country in the Western Hemisphere, Colombia. A camera-ready copy of this PSA is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
068	Suffering From Chronic Pain?	Suffering From Chronic Pain? Up to 30 million Americans suffer from under-treated chronic pain. Families suffer with them. For most, suffering is completely unnecessary. A camera-ready copy of this PSA is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
067	Another "Drug Baby" Media Scare?	Another "Drug Baby" Media Scare? This PSA is based on an article by Dr. Barry Lester (used with his permission). The PSA responds to the inaccurate claims and over-the top reporting on the methamphetamine issue which are generating "crank baby" hysteria. This PSA is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
066	Methamphetamine Crisis: Hype or Fact?	Methamphetamine Crisis: Hype or Fact? Check out this PSA and learn the truth about methamphetamines in America. A camera-ready version of this PSA available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
065	Why do nearly a million teens sell drugs?	Why do nearly a million teens sell drugs but not alcohol or cigarettes? Because alcohol and tobacco are regulated and sold through stores. Camera-ready copy of this PSA available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
064	Excerpts from a Cato Institute Policy Analysis	Excerpts from a Cato Institute Policy Analysis: "The government is waging an aggressive, intemperate, unjustified war on pain doctors." This PSA contains excerpts from a Cato Institute Policy Analysis No. 545, June 16, 2005, "Treating Doctors as Drug Dealers," by Ronald T. Libby, Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Florida. A camera-ready copy of this PSA is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
063	Chronic Pain & Opioids: Debunking the Myths.	Chronic Pain & Opioids: Debunking the Myths. Chronic pain is a progressive disease of the nervous system, caused by failure of the body's internal pain control systems. Opioids are substances naturally produced within the body to regulate pain. Chronic pain victims often benefit from supplementation with pharmaceutical opioids. As part of the War on Drugs, law enforcement is conducting a witch-hunt against pain doctors who prescribe opioids compassionately. A camera-ready copy of this PSA also available in Portable Document Format (PDF).