Tories want kids to say no to drugs

By Laura Payton, Toronto Sun

 

OTTAWA – The Tories are launching a new ad that's meant to show teens what long-term drug addiction can do.

 

The ad, called Mirror, shows a teen who's high and going through different phases of drug addiction, eventually trashing her room and chopping off her hair. It ends with her dirty and scabbed, shaking with withdrawal symptoms.

 

The ad will run on teen-focused channels and programming from now until mid-March. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says they expect about 65% of teens 13-15 years old to see the ad by then.

 

“More than 21,000 young people have signed up as a fan of our Facebook page and there have been about half a million visits to the website (drugsnot4me.ca),” Aglukkaq said.

 

“To Canadian parents, we're on your side and you have our support in helping your kids say no to drugs.”

 

Aglukkaq says the feedback the government's got on the website shows the program is getting kids to pay attention.

 

But the NDP drug policy critic says the Tories' drug policy ignores harm reduction and treatment.

 

“Obviously, an ad campaign is a component but what I'm very concerned about is they've dropped the harm reduction aspect, which is a very important component, particularly for youth at risk,” Libby Davies said.