Antidrug Ad Cuts Eyed by GOP September 27, 2005
News Summary
The House Republican Study Committee has put the Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) antidrug advertising campaign on the cutting block, saying the project hasn't been proven to work and that the money could be used to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief.Brandweek reported Sept. 23 that the committee said eliminating the media campaign would save $1.3 billion over 10 years.
"There is no solid evidence that media campaigns are effective in either preventing or reducing the use of illegal drugs," said the group, led by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.).
"We need strong support for the campaign in order to continue driving down teen drug use," responded ONDCP spokesperson Tom Riley. "Dollars invested in prevention today save millions of dollars and thousands of lives tomorrow."
The campaign, funded at $120 million last year, has been allocated $145 million in the FY2006 House budget and $95 million in the Senate budget.
COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE: