Pubdate: Sun, 10 Feb 2002
Source: New Haven Register (CT)
Copyright: 2002, New Haven Register
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1281
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292
Author: Michael Cappello
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/campaign.htm (ONDCP Media Campaign)

'SUPER' ADS WASTED ANTI-DRUG MONEY

I'm disappointed that $3.2 million was spent on misguided, anti-drug ads 
aired during the Super Bowl, while important drug treatment and 
rehabilitation programs remain under funded.

I understand that addictive drugs are destroying lives and families in 
America every day. It is also true that drug sales generate profits for 
overseas cartels and terrorists often sell drugs to finance violence.

However, it makes no sense for the government to buy the most expensive 
airtime there is for spots that seem designed mainly to link the popular 
war on terrorism with the unpopular war on drugs.

Only a third of federal anti-drug money is earmarked for prevention and 
treatment programs a " even though waiting lists for treatment programs are 
so long as to be cruel. Yet from these limited funds the administration 
spent $3.2 million to air two 30-second commercials.

By almost any measure, the U.S. war on drugs continues to be an abject 
failure, and the reasons are pretty simple: The profits from the illegal 
sale of drugs are so large that drug cartels can overwhelm the billions of 
dollars spent on seizing drugs and counter-narcotics operations overseas.

The White House's Super Bowl ads represent the continuation of a failed 
policy that does not serve our kids, fight terrorists or help to liberate 
those living under the scourge of governments corrupted by drug money.

Stop the ad campaign and reallocate the money to proven treatment programs.

Michael Cappello

Milford
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