Say No to Drugs
“Say no to drugs” is a phrase which originated
with Nancy Reagan and became the motto for the War on Drugs
campaign initiated by the Reagan administration in the 1980’s. “Say
no to drugs” became the battle dry of prevention. Prevention
is a crucial component of fighting the drug epidemic in America
which continues today and can alleviate some of the social
and economic costs which are associated with drug abuse.
Marketing the phrase, “Say no to drugs” was an
effective way to spread the message in a clear, direct way
children could relate to. The motto “say no to drugs” could
be found inscribed onto buttons, bumper stickers, T-shirts,
etc, so it was accessible to kids and actually became part
of the pop culture. . Indeed, the campaign was so far reaching
and memorable that it actually became synonymous with the
American culture of the 1980’s.
In addition to printed versions of the slogan, “say no to drugs”,
a large scale public service announcement campaign was launched. Along with dark,
gritty commercials which underscored the dangers and darkness of drug abuse,
other ads featured public figures and celebrities urging America’s youth
to “say no to drugs”. The use of popular public figures made the
motto “say no to drugs” and the message behind it became even more
powerful as kids were able to identify with their role models.
Today parents still use the slogan “say no to drugs” while educating
their children about the dangers of drugs; knowing that prevention is the best
approach. The simple motto which represents healthy, smart choices gives kids
something easy to remember and the knowledge that saying “no” is
the best decision they can make in their young lives. The wide spread use of
the motto “say no to drugs” is a testament of the popularity and
effectiveness of this campaign.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article.
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