anti drug campaign essay

Essay on Drug Awareness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Drug Awareness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Drug Awareness

Understanding drugs.

Drugs are substances that can change how your body and mind work. They can be legal, like medicine prescribed by a doctor, or illegal.

Effects of Drugs

Drugs can make you feel different. Some might make you feel happy for a short time, but they can also harm your body and brain.

The Risk of Addiction

Some people may start using drugs out of curiosity or to feel good, but it can lead to addiction. Addiction is when you can’t stop taking the drug, even if it’s causing harm.

Staying Safe

It’s important to say no to illegal drugs and only take medicines as directed by a doctor.

250 Words Essay on Drug Awareness

Introduction, the importance of drug awareness.

Drug awareness is essential to equip individuals with knowledge about the potential risks and consequences of drug use. It helps in understanding the difference between use and misuse, the signs of addiction, and the effects of drugs on physical and mental health. This knowledge can be a powerful tool in preventing drug misuse and addiction.

The Role of Education

Education plays a significant role in drug awareness. It is not only about imparting knowledge but also about fostering a healthy attitude towards drug use. Educational institutions, particularly colleges, hold a responsibility to provide students with accurate information, enabling them to make informed decisions.

In conclusion, drug awareness is a vital aspect of health education. It empowers individuals, especially college students, to make informed decisions about drug use, thus preventing potential misuse and addiction. The role of education in promoting drug awareness cannot be overstated, as it equips students with necessary knowledge and fosters a responsible attitude towards drug use.

500 Words Essay on Drug Awareness

The issue of drug abuse and addiction has become a global concern, with implications that transcend cultural, economic, and social boundaries. Drug awareness is a critical aspect in curbing this menace, as it equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to resist drug use, and encourages a healthier, safer society.

The Prevalence of Drug Abuse

The prevalence of drug abuse is alarming, with the World Health Organization estimating that nearly 5.5% of the world’s population aged 15-64 years have used drugs at least once in their lifetime. This statistic underscores the urgency for effective drug awareness programs. It is essential to understand the factors contributing to drug abuse, which include peer pressure, curiosity, stress, and the desire for escapism. These factors, coupled with the easy accessibility of drugs, create a potent recipe for addiction.

Components of Effective Drug Awareness Programs

Effective drug awareness programs should be comprehensive, targeting various aspects of the drug abuse issue. Firstly, they should provide factual information about drugs, their effects, and the risks associated with their use. Secondly, they must equip individuals with the skills to resist peer pressure and make informed decisions. Lastly, these programs should provide support and resources for those struggling with addiction, emphasizing that recovery is possible and that help is available.

The Role of Society in Drug Awareness

Society plays a significant role in promoting drug awareness. Schools, workplaces, and communities can host awareness campaigns, workshops, and seminars. The media can also play an influential role in disseminating accurate information about drugs and addiction. Moreover, government policies can support drug awareness initiatives, providing funding and resources for these programs.

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A Look At The Effectiveness Of Anti-Drug Ad Campaigns

NPR's Ari Shapiro discusses anti-drug campaigns with Keith Humphreys a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and a former drug policy adviser to presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Copyright © 2017 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

108 Drug Abuse Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best drug abuse topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on drug abuse, 💡 most interesting drug abuse topics to write about, ❓ drug abuse research questions.

Drug abuse essays are an excellent way to learn about the issue and its influence on various groups and populations while demonstrating your understanding.

Various substances, including alcohol, narcotics, and other mind-altering products, are a popular method for recreation in some communities.

However, they are prone to result in addiction, psychological as well as mental, and lead the person to pursue another dose before anything else.

In doing so, he or she can eventually ruin his or her life, which is why most drugs are currently banned around the world. This article will offer you some tips that will help you write an excellent essay and receive the top grade.

Youth is a major demographic that is affected by addiction issues due to drug consumption. Young people are impressionable and prone to search for new sensations. Drugs can offer a sense of novelty and provide an experience they have not had before, leading to considerable appeal.

Considering that young people are generally not wealthy and have to focus on work to succeed in life, essays on drug among youth can use a variety of excellent topics. You can offer your ideas on the reason for the phenomenon’s existence and ways in which it can be prevented.

However, remember that the purpose of the programs should be to help the people who are at risk.

There are many other drug abuse essay topics that you can explore, with poverty being a prominent example. Despite their conditions, many people turn to substance abuse to try and escape the unpleasant aspects of their life.

These population segments are more likely to suffer after acquiring a drug habit than young people because they generally receive less attention.

Furthermore, poor neighborhoods with relatively low amounts of surveillance by law enforcement are likely to house drug dealers who prey on vulnerable people.

You can discuss this topic or discuss a variety of other ones, as the relationship between poverty and poor outcomes has been researched deeply.

Here are some additional tips for your essay:

• Try to use examples to illustrate your points about various aspects of the issue. Drug addiction essay quotations from people who are affected by the condition or have overcome it can offer valuable insights. They also legitimize your findings by providing parallels with the real world.
• Alcohol essays are an excellent choice, as the substance is legal and available to everyone without much difficulty. Nevertheless, its effects can be devastating, especially if a person’s consumption is chronic.
• Try to write a drug abuse essay outline before starting work, as it will help you to organize the essay. Select some prominent ideas that you want to discuss and organize them in a manner that represents a logical progression. You do not have to discard all of the other concepts, as you can make them sub-headings under your main titles.
• Be sure to include a drug abuse essay introduction and conclusion in your work. They will help you provide a structure to the essay and make it easier for the reader to understand your ideas. The introduction should describe the topic and provide the thesis, and the conclusion should restate your main points.

Visit IvyPanda for drug abuse essay titles, and other useful samples on various subjects to help you with your writing work!

• Drug and Alcohol Abuse For along time now, drug and alcohol abuse in the society has been a problem that affects the youth and the society at large. This paper highlights the problems of drug abuse and alcohol drinking […]
• Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse Drug trafficking contributes to drug abuse in the society. Drug trafficking also contributes to increased criminal activities that affect the security of citizens.
• Drug Abuse and Current Generation Drug abuse also breeds an array of behavioral problems among young people, which may affect their suitability to fit in the society.
• Drug Abuse & Its Effects on Families Focusing on the family seems to be by far, the most known and effective way of finding a solution with regards to the “war on drugs” since it more promising to end the vicious cycle […]
• Social Media Impact on Drug Abuse Thus, social media platforms definitely contribute to the misuse of various drugs by romanticizing their consumption and making “social drug use” acceptable among users.
• Drug and Substance Abuse Many experts consider addiction as a disease as it affects a specific part of the brain; the limbic system commonly referred to as the pleasure center.
• Merton’s Argument of Deviance: The Case of Drug Abuse The most prominent example in support of Merton’s argument in relation to drug abuse is that cultural and social circumstances play a crucial role in defining people’s desire to engage in drug use.
• Consequences of Drug Abuse The endless stream of drugs, obtainable to the individuals with little or no restrictions, poses a serious inquiry. When assessing the advantages of using pharmaceutical drugs, it is essential to consider the severity of health […]
• Reasons Behind Youth’s Engagement to Drug Abuse in the 21st Century Although youths in the 21st century engage in drug abuse due to several factors, it suffices to declare factors such as the rising unemployment status, peer pressure, and their hiked tendency to copy their parents’ […]
• Prevention Research: The Fight Against Drug Abuse It is agreeable that US’s ‘War on Drugs’ has been an effective substance abuse prevention plan despite the hiccups that the program faces and its inability to attain some of its designated mandates within the […]
• “Cocaine: Abuse and Addiction” by National Institute on Drug Abuse The literature provides us with a report of a research that has been conducted in the US regarding the topic of cocaine and drug abuse.
• Drug Abuse. “Nine Years Under” Book by Sheri Booker The book is thought provoking and important because it allows representing the difficult social situation and the problems of gang violence and drugs in the United States from the personal point of view.
• Drug Abuse Among the Youth Essentially, this case study will allow the evaluation of the prevailing cases of drug abuse among the youth. In this regard, the pain and peer pleasure cannot be persevered to allow an explicit cure of […]
• Drug Abuse, Aggression and Antisocial Behavior The use of abusive drugs can cause anger in people because of the effect they have on the brain. An example of how alcohol can cause aggression in a person is that it impairs an […]
• Youth Drug Abuse Among, Education, and Policies Although drug abuse encompasses improper use of drugs disregarding the prescriptions of medical practitioners, the principal challenges of drug abuse occasion from abuse of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
• Drug Abuse Effects on Health and Nervous System These numerous damages severely affect the quality of the brains work and the health of the nervous system. While discussing the effects of drug addiction, it is essential to notice that it has a devastating […]
• Substance Abuse: Prevention Strategies and National Benchmarks Still, this desire to get away from problems by means of substances instead of making effort to improve an individual’s environment contributed to the evolution of the challenge of substance abuse into a real public […]
• Drug Abuse and Prevention Strategies When specialists deal with preventative factors, they pay attention to both mental and physical ways to resist the drug. The symbiosis of these procedures is exceptionally efficient in terms of the drug rehabilitation process when […]
• Drug Abuse in Adolescents and Its Causes Scientific research shows that the development factors for adolescent drug abuse are not limited to a set of three to five causes, but are usually linked to the integration of destructive environmental conditions.
• Drug Abuse and Its Psychological Effects The purpose of this paper is to explore in more depth the psychological effects of addiction on the family and inner circle of the addict.
• Policies for Pregnant Women With Drug Abuse Thus, out of all the offered policies, financial support for therapy is the best one, as it motivates prevention and treatment, which, in turn, causes the improvement of this situation.
• The Formative Evaluation: Program of Addressing Drug Abuse in Schools The proposed program sought to educate students about the challenges of drug abuse, its impacts on academic performance, and the best techniques to avoid the vice.
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Canada Therefore, it contributes as a central factor in the essence of the character, and it is crucial to understand the core definition and the elements that foster the ideology.
• Mitigating Drug Abuse in Pine View School The inclusion of professionals in the fields of health care, counseling, and drugs is expected to promote the delivery of desirable results.
• Drug Abuse and Its Negative Effects This paper aims to highlight what the field of psychology says about the negative effects of drugs and why people continue using despite the consequences. The main effect is that it creates a memory of […]
• Prevention Programs: Drug Abuse Resistance Education This program focuses on handling peer pressure among youths, a crucial cause of drug abuse in the country. The program is also grounded on sound research, which offers the critical elements vital to handling the […]
• Drug Abuse in Lake County, California The topic of drug abuse is essential for discussion due to the need to develop strategies to prevent and minimize the dangerous consequences of drug abuse in different regions.
• Drug Abuse Among Homeless Young Adults in New Jersey The reason why young adults in New Jersey get involved in drugs and alcohol after becoming homeless is to manage their situations in an attempt to attain the tentative pleasure of life despite their problems. […]
• Community Intervention Practices against Drug Abuse The key features that result in successful community-based intervention on drug abuse are integrated for effectiveness and efficiency. On the other hand, drug abuse refers to the consumption of substances that elicit particular feelings and […]
• Teenage Drug Abuse in the United States The problem of teenage drug abuse inflicts a threat to the future society and health state of the overall population in the United States.
• Alcoholism, Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse Kaur and Ajinkya researched to investigate the “psychological impact of adult alcoholism on spouses and children”. The work of Kaur and Ajinkya, reveals a link between chronic alcoholism and emotional problems on the spouse and […]
• Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use National survey results on drug use obtained by Monitoring the Future have a significant value to the development of various approaches with regard to the prevention of drug abuse.
• The Health Issues Associated With Drug Abuse It is therefore imperative to develop strategies for health promotion to reduce the number of teenagers, the most at-risk family member when it comes to drug abuse.
• Fentanyl – Drug Profile and Specific and Drug Abuse The drug has the effect of depressing the respiratory center, constricting the pupils, as well as depressing the cough reflex. The remainder 75% of fentanyl is swallowed and absorbed in G-tract.
• Cases of Drug Abuse Amongst Nursing Professionals It is noteworthy that at the top of the information, the date posted is Monday, February 14, 2011, yet against the information, the date is February 11, 2011.
• The Treatment of Drug Abuse Any medical practitioner treating a drug abuse patient has to be careful in many aspects, like: He has to be careful on the issue that if the addiction has effected the brain of the patient.
• Drug Courts and Detoxification: Approach to Drug Abuse Treatment However, since 1989, the US federal system has been providing the majority of drug abusers with proper treatment or education with the help of a drug court option.
• Drug Abuse in Adolescents Aged 15-19 Years Old: A Public Health Menace In addition, the objectives of the paper are as follows: the first aim is to analyze the collected data and produce a review of the information.
• Drug Abuse and Addiction Holimon has succeeded in reviving some of her family relations, and she is still putting a lot of effort to get ahead in this area to the fullest extent possible.
• Sports as a Solution to Youth Substance Abuse: Dr. Collingwood’s View His comments made me realize that it would be unwise by the end of the day for any parent to leave their children under the mercy of the media where they learned that doing drugs […]
• Drug Abuse in High School and College With respect to social work and the problem of substance abuse, research has been carried out in terms of investigating the relationship between drug abuse and poverty, the effects of drug abuse on the society.
• Critical Issues in Education: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism For this case, the ministry concerned has a very hard task of ensuring there are no critical issues that are left unsolved that relate to education, failure to which will affect the performance of students […]
• Biopsychosocial Experience in Drug Abuse Treatment There has to be a preventive strategy in every intervention procedure to avoid the occurrence of a disease. I find the course of treatment in this intervention beneficial for the creation of the needed preventive […]
• Addictive Behavior Programs and Drug Abuse Trends The involvement of stakeholders is an essential condition for the effectiveness of this model of work and its results, and all the roles should be allocated in accordance with the capabilities of the program’s participants.
• Substance Misuse in American Youth: A Socio-Cultural Analysis The paper analyzes studies regarding some of the most widespread types of substances, as well as discusses the role of the rap culture in the growing number of young addicts in the U.S.
• Social Behaviour as a Science: Drug Abuse in Youth Thus, the application of social psychology to the phenomenon of youth drug abuse helps to explain how social factors impact the prevalence of and risk for drug abuse.
• Prescription Drug Abuse and Lebanon Students The first two authors are the representatives of the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at the American University of Beirut, and Martins is from the Department of Mental Health, the John Hopkins University.
• Financial Planning for Drug Abuse Prevention in Virginia Estates Therefore, the first preferred sources for the program are the County Commission and the Alabama Department of Corrections. The program can be financed by the Montgomery County Commission in the short term and Alabama Department […]
• Problem of Drug Abuse in Schools The research worked on the hypothesis that the treatment would reduce or result in the total cessation of drug use, and better relations with family and friends.
• Prescription Drug Abuse in the United States The combination of Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are effective for the patients, who want to reduce and control the level of pain.
• Impact of Drug Abuse on Adolescent Development Therefore, it is important for counselors to consider these stages to help them address the issue of substance abuse among adolescents. In the habitual stage, most adolescents take drugs to help them modify their moods.
• Drug Abuse: Age, Gender and Addictive Susceptibility This incorporates the aspects of gender where males and females possess varying biological constitutions that might affect the prescribed treatments in the realms of addiction. It is important to consider the rapidity and susceptibility of […]
• Drug Abuse Prevention Programs Additionally, it is possible to prospect the success of the program in case the required readiness from the community can be unveiled prior to the program execution.
• The Cultural Context and Ethics of Prevention of Drug Abuse The first prevention strategy outlined in the document is the involvement of young people in all levels of the prevention program establishment. Concurrently, it is crucial to relate this technique with the subject of culture […]
• Use of Psychotropic Medications in the Treatment of Drug Abuse This is because the mental illness is, literally, the one that sustains the abuse of drugs and thus after it is healed; the patient will have no reason to continue abusing the drugs.
• Drug Abuse: Awareness Amongst the Youths This project is going to carry out a public awareness campaign with the aim of educating the young people on the hazards related to the vice of drug and substance abuse. The awareness campaign is […]
• A New Alcohol and Drug-Abuse Rehabilitation Center in Liverpool Hospital, Sydney The hospital, in response to this distress, has decided to bring help closer to the people of Liverpool by the construction of the annex facility.
• Spirituality Effect on Drug Abuse Treatment Programs The hypothesis of the study was that spirituality is appropriate in the formal treatment of addiction; the study confirmed this hypothesis.
• Drug Abuse and Religious Spirituality Concept Particularly, this high rate of relapses was determined by Olmstead et al.as a direct result of a degree of failure on the part of drug abuse treatment programs to sufficiently address the primary reason why […]
• The Extent of Drug Abuse Among People in America Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Said He Lied about Crack Cocaine Use Because He Was Embarrassed Mayor lied about the use of crack cocaine The article titled “Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said he lied about crack […]
• Drug Use and Abuse in America: Historical Analysis The new law was similar to the Boggs Act of 1951 in that it employed the same formula of using perceived increase in drug use in the country.
• Drug Abuse as an Ethical Issue On the side of duties and obligations, the societal norms stipulate that individuals should be caring to other members of the society especially the children and the old.
• Drug Abuse and Society Regardless of the many intervention measures that can be adopted to solve this problem of drug abuse, the most effective intervention measure is to create awareness to youths to enable them change their behaviors and […]
• Prescription Painkillers, the New Drug Abuse of Choice Studies attribute the recent increase in the misuse of prescription drugs to an increase in the use of the Internet, which facilitates the growth of illegitimate online drug stores and uncontrolled online prescription drug sales.
• Music Analysis: Drug Abuse in Music So in this song the artist is also lamenting the dangers of drugs and the theme of the music is one that advocates against tackling the problem with issues of drug abuse by arguing the […]
• Drug Abuse: Comprehensive Review The effects associated with drug abuse tend to vary depending on an individual’s age and the phase of drug abuse that the person is in.
• Drug Abuse as a Social Problem This poses as problem to the society because many of the people who are unemployed will resort to different ways of seeking money and pleasure.
• Adolescent’s Drug Abuse and Therapy Success When one accepts to put up with negative peer pressure, they end up giving up the personal trusts and values thus the pressure becomes a form of a negative force.”Does peer pressure affect the decision […]
• What Are Influences That Cause Drug Abuse on Youth?
• What Are Some Solutions to Drug Abuse?
• What Are the Primary Causes and Effects of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Among Young People?
• What Causes Teenage Drug Abuse?
• What Does Drug Abuse Truly?
• Why Do Children Need to Be Educated About Drug Abuse?
• Why Has the American Government Not Managed to Stop Drug Abuse All These Years?
• How Does Drug Abuse Affect Personal Development of Hong Kong Teenagers?
• How Does Pericarditis Form Due to Drug Abuse?
• How Drug Abuse Ruins Families and Destroys Relationships?
• How Does Prescription Drug Abuse Affect Teens?
• Does the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program Work?
• What Is the Drug of Abuse?
• What Are the Four Types of Drugs Abused?
• Which Is an Example of Drug Abuse?
• What Is the Leading Cause of Drug Abuse?
• What Are the Causes and Effects of Drug Abuse?
• What Are the Main Consequences of Drug Abuse?
• How Does Drug Abuse Affect Our Society?
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• What Are the Ten Most Abused Drugs?
• How Do Drugs Affect Mental Health?
• What Are the Effects of Drug Abuse on Youths?
• What Is the Connection Between Adolescents From Divorced Families and Drug Abuse?
• Are Alcohol and Drug Abuse the Most Common Issues of Today?
• What Is Athletes’ Motivation for Performance-Enhancement Drug Abuse?
• What Is the Correlation Between Parietal and Adolescent Drug Abuse?
• How Is Dealing With Teenage Drug Abuse?
• What Is the Difference Between Drug Use and Drug Abuse?
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United Nations

Office on drugs and crime.

• World Drug Day

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

This year’s World Drug Day is a call to:

• Raise awareness: Increase understanding of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of evidence-based prevention strategies, emphasizing their impact on mitigating the harms of drug use.
• Advocate for investment: Encourage greater investment in prevention efforts by governments, policymakers, and law enforcement professionals, highlighting the long-term benefits of early intervention and prevention.
• Empower communities: Equip communities with the tools and resources to implement evidence-based prevention initiatives, fostering resilience against drug use and promoting community-led solutions.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration: Promote dialogue and collaboration between stakeholders to enhance evidence-based prevention practices and policies, fostering a supportive environment for knowledge sharing and innovation.
• Promote evidence-based policymaking: Advocate for evidence-based policymaking at the national and international levels, ensuring that drug policies are grounded in scientific research and informed by best practices.
• Engage communities: Raise awareness about the importance of community engagement and participation in designing and implementing effective drug prevention programs, empowering communities to take ownership of prevention efforts.
• Empower youth: Provide youth with the knowledge, skills, and resources to become agents of change in their communities, advocating for drug prevention initiatives and amplifying their voices in the conversation.
• Promote international cooperation: Foster international cooperation and collaboration among governments, organizations, and communities to develop and implement evidence-based strategies for combating drug trafficking and organized crime, recognizing the global nature of the drug problem and the need for coordinated action.

World Drug Report

Every year, UNODC issues the World Drug Report, full of key statistics and factual data obtained through official sources, a science-based approach, and research. This year’s report will be launched on 26 June.

WORLD DRUG REPORT

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Human Rights and Duterte’s War on Drugs

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs has led to thousands of extrajudicial killings, raising human rights concerns, says expert John Gershman in this interview.

Interview by Michelle Xu , Interviewer John Gershman , Interviewee

December 16, 2016 3:56 pm (EST)

Since becoming president of the Philippines in June 2016, Rodrigo Duterte has launched a war on drugs that has resulted in the extrajudicial deaths of thousands of alleged drug dealers and users across the country. The Philippine president sees drug dealing and addiction as “major obstacles to the Philippines’ economic and social progress,” says John Gershman, an expert on Philippine politics. The drug war is a cornerstone of Duterte’s domestic policy and represents the extension of policies he’d implemented earlier in his political career as the mayor of the city of Davao. In December 2016, the United States withheld poverty aid to the Philippines after declaring concern over Duterte’s war on drugs.

How did the Philippines’ war on drugs start?  

When Rodrigo Duterte campaigned for president, he claimed that drug dealing and drug addiction were major obstacles to the Philippines’ economic and social progress. He promised a large-scale crackdown on dealers and addicts, similar to the crackdown that he engaged in when he was mayor of Davao, one of the Philippines’ largest cities on the southern island of Mindanao. When Duterte became president in June, he encouraged the public to “go ahead and kill” drug addicts. His rhetoric has been widely understood as an endorsement of extrajudicial killings, as it has created conditions for people to feel that it’s appropriate to kill drug users and dealers. What have followed seem to be vigilante attacks against alleged or suspected drug dealers and drug addicts. The police are engaged in large-scale sweeps. The Philippine National Police also revealed a list of high-level political officials and other influential people who were allegedly involved in the drug trade.

“When Rodrigo Duterte campaigned for president, he claimed that drug dealing and drug addiction were major obstacles to the Philippines’ economic and social progress.”

Philippines

Rodrigo Duterte

Drug Policy

The dominant drug in the Philippines is a variant of methamphetamine called shabu. According to a 2012 United Nations report , among all the countries in East Asia, the Philippines had the highest rate of methamphetamine abuse. Estimates showed that about 2.2 percent of Filipinos between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four were using methamphetamines, and that methamphetamines and marijuana were the primary drugs of choice. In 2015, the national drug enforcement agency reported that one fifth of the barangays, the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, had evidence of drug use, drug trafficking, or drug manufacturing; in Manila, the capital, 92 percent of the barangays had yielded such evidence.

How would you describe Duterte’s leadership as the mayor of Davao?

After the collapse of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, there were high levels of crime in Davao and Duterte cracked down on crime associated with drugs and criminality more generally. There was early criticism of his time as mayor by Philippine and international human rights groups because of his de facto endorsement of extrajudicial killings, under the auspices of the “Davao Death Squad.”

Duterte was also successful at negotiating with the Philippine Communist Party. He was seen broadly as sympathetic to their concerns about poverty, inequality, and housing, and pursued a reasonably robust anti-poverty agenda while he was mayor. He was also interested in public health issues, launching the first legislation against public smoking in the Philippines, which he has claimed he will launch nationally.

What have been the outcomes of the drug war?

By early December , nearly 6,000 people had been killed: about 2,100 have died in police operations and the remainder in what are called “deaths under investigation,” which is shorthand for vigilante killings. There are also claims that half a million to seven hundred thousand people have surrendered themselves to the police. More than 40,000 people have been arrested.

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Although human rights organizations and political leaders have spoken out against the crackdown, Duterte has been relatively successful at not having the legislature engaged in any serious oversight of or investigation into this war. Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, former chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and a former secretary of justice under the previous administration, had condemned the war on drugs and held hearings on human rights violations associated with these extrajudicial killings. However, in August, Duterte alleged that he had evidence of de Lima having an affair with her driver, who had been using drugs and collecting drug protection money when de Lima was the justice secretary. De Lima was later removed from her position chairing the investigative committee in a 16-4 vote by elected members of the Senate committee.

What is the public reaction to the drug war?

The war on drugs has received a high level of popular support from across the class spectrum in the Philippines. The most recent nationwide survey on presidential performance and trust ratings conducted from September 25 to October 1 by Pulse Asia Research showed that Duterte’s approval rating was around 86 percent. Even through some people are concerned about these deaths, they support him as a president for his position on other issues. For example, he has a relatively progressive economic agenda, with a focus on economic inequality.

Duterte is also supporting a range of anti-poverty programs and policies. The most recent World Bank quarterly report speaks positively about Duterte’s economic plans. The fact that he wants to work on issues of social inequality and economic inequality makes people not perceive the drug war as a war on the poor.

How is Duterte succeeding in carrying out this war on drugs?

The Philippine judicial system is very slow and perceived as corrupt, enabling Duterte to act proactively and address the issue of drugs in a non-constructive way with widespread violations of human rights. Moreover, in the face of a corrupt, elite-dominated political system and a slow, ineffective, and equally corrupt judicial system, people are willing to tolerate this politician who promised something and is now delivering.

“Drug dealers and drug addicts are a stigmatized group, and stigmatized groups always have difficulty gaining political support for the defense of their rights.”

There are no trials, so there is no evidence that the people being killed are in fact drug dealers or drug addicts. [This situation] shows the weakness of human rights institutions and discourse in the face of a popular and skilled populist leader. It is different from college students being arrested under the Marcos regime or activists being targeted under the first Aquino administration, when popular outcry was aroused. Drug dealers and drug addicts are a stigmatized group, and stigmatized groups always have difficulty gaining political support for the defense of their rights.

How has the United States reacted to the drug war and why is Duterte challenging U.S.-Philippines relations?

It’s never been a genuine partnership. It’s always been a relationship dominated by U.S. interests. Growing up in the 1960s, Duterte lived through a period when the United States firmly supported a regime that was even more brutal than this particular regime and was willing to not criticize that particular government. He noticed that the United States was willing to overlook human rights violations when these violations served their geopolitical interests. He was unhappy about the double standards. [Editor’s Note: The Obama administration has expressed concern over reports of extrajudicial killings and encouraged Manila to abide by its international human rights obligations.] For the first time, the United States is facing someone who is willing to challenge this historically imbalanced relationship. It is unclear what might happen to the relationship under the administration of Donald J. Trump, but initial indications are that it may not focus on human rights in the Philippines. President-Elect Trump has reportedly endorsed the Philippine president’s effort, allegedly saying that the country is going about the drug war "the right way," according to Duterte .

The interview has been edited and condensed.

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Essay on Drug Addiction | Drug Addiction Essay for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Veerendra

Essay on Drug Addiction: Addiction refers to the harmful need to consume substances that have damaging consequences on the user. Addiction affects not just the body but also on the person’s mental health and soundness of mind. Addiction is one of the most severe health problems faced around the world and is termed as a chronic disease. A widespread disorder ranges from drugs, alcohol addiction to gambling, and even phone addiction.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

One of the most unfortunate yet common addictions that affect millions today is drug addiction. Also referred to as substance – use disorder, it is the addiction to substances that harm neurological functioning and a person’s behavior. The essay provides relevant information on this topic.

Long and Short Essay on Drug Addiction in English for Students and Kids

There are two essays listed below. The long essay consists of 500 words and a short essay of 200 words.

Long Essay on Drug Addiction in English 500 words

Drug addiction, also known as substance–use disorder, refers to the dangerous and excessive intake of legal and illegal drugs. This leads to many behavioral changes in the person as well as affects brain functions. Drug addiction includes abusing alcohol, cocaine, heroin, opioid, painkillers, and nicotine, among others. Drugs like these help the person feel good about themselves and induce ‘dopamine’ or the happiness hormone. As they continue to use the drug, the brain starts to increase dopamine levels, and the person demands more.

Drug addiction has severe consequences. Some of the signs include anxiety, paranoia, increased heart rate, and red eyes. They are intoxicated and unable to display proper coordination and have difficulty in remembering things. A person who is addicted cannot resist using them and unable to function correctly without ingesting them. It causes damage to the brain, their personal and professional relationships. It affects mental cognition; they are unable to make proper decisions, cannot retain information, and make poor judgments. They tend to engage in reckless activities such as stealing or driving under the influence. They also make sure that there is a constant supply and are willing to pay a lot of money even if they are unable to afford it and tend to have erratic sleep patterns.

Drug addiction also causes a person to isolate themselves and have either intense or no food cravings. They stop taking care of their hygiene. Drug addiction affects a person’s speech and experience hallucinations. They are unable to converse and communicate properly; they speak fast and are hyperactive. Those addicted have extreme mood swings. They can go from feeling happy to feeling sad quickly and are incredibly secretive. They begin to lose interest in activities they once loved. Substance abusers also undergo withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms refer to the symptoms that occur when they stop taking the drug. Some withdrawal symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and tremors. They stop and starting using again, an endless cycle that could be life-threatening. Drug addiction can be fatal if not treated timely. It can cause brain damage and seizures as well as overdose, heart diseases, respiratory problems, damage to the liver and kidneys, vomiting, lung diseases, and much more.

Though chronic, treatment is available for drug addiction. Many techniques are used, such as behavioral counseling, medication to treat the addiction, and providing treatment not just for substance abuse but also for many factors that accompany addiction such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Many devices have developed to overcome addiction. There are rehabilitation centers to help people. After treatment, there are numerous follow-ups to ensure that the cycle does not come back. The most important is having family and friends to support the effect. It will help them build confidence and come over their addiction.

The United Nations celebrates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26th of June. Drug addiction impacts millions and needs to be treated carefully to prevent further harm to the individual and letting them live a better life.

Short Essay on Drug Addiction in English 250 words

Drug addiction refers to taking substances that are harmful to our bodies. They cause changes to a person’s behavior as well. Many people take these drugs to feel happier and better about themselves. These dangerous substances make the brain produce a chemical that makes us happy, called dopamine. Producing large amounts of these causes the person to take the drug consistently.

Some of the drugs include alcohol, nicotine, and other unhealthy substances. Taking these substances can lead to many symptoms. These include unable to think correctly, cannot remember things, and unable to speak clearly. They steal and keep secrets from their close ones. Those addicted cannot sleep; they become happy and sad quickly. They stop doing the activities that they liked doing. They are not aware of their surroundings. Taking these dangerous substances can cause many health problems such as vomiting, unable to breathe, brain, and lung damage. It also affects their family, friends, and work.

Drug addiction is life-threatening. However, people with this addiction can be treated and helped with therapy, counseling, and taking medicines along with rehab centers. They do follow-ups to ensure that they never retake these drugs. They must have their family and friends to support them as they recover.

10 lines About Drug Addiction Essay in English

• Drug addiction refers to taking harmful substances that affect a person’s brain functions and behavior. It involves taking legal and illegal drugs, and the person is unable to stop using them. It is also referred to as substance- use disorders
• Harmful drugs include alcohol, cocaine, heroin, opioids, painkillers, nicotine, etc.
• The harmful drugs cause an excessive release of dopamine or the happy hormone, which causes the person to take more.
• Drug addiction can affect mental cognition, including decision making, judgments, and memory. It also causes speech problems.
• It can cause anxiety paranoia and increased blood pressure. They have erratic sleep patterns and isolate themselves. It causes problems in their personal and professional relationships.
• Those addicted become moody, hyperactive, and hallucinate. They also engage in reckless activities.
• They experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using substances. These include nausea, fatigue, and tremors.
• It can have many effects on the body, such as brain damage, seizures, liver and kidney damage, respiratory and lung issues.
• Treatment is available. It includes behavioral therapy, medication, rehabilitation, as well as a follow-up to prevent relapse.
• The United Nations celebrates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26th of June.

Frequently Asked Questions on Drug Addiction Essay

Question  1. What is drug addiction?

Answer: Drug addiction, also known as substance – use disorder, refers to the dangerous and excessive intake of legal and illegal drugs. This leads to many behavioral changes in the person as well as affects brain functions.

Question 2. Why does drug addiction occur?

Answer: People become addicted to these drugs because they want to feel happier. The drugs cause a chemical called dopamine, which induces happiness to be released. The brain starts to increase dopamine levels, and thus the person becomes addicted to the drug to match the increasing levels.

Question 3. What is the difference between dependence and addiction?

Answer: Dependence and addiction vary. While dependence is an intense craving for the drug by the body, addiction also refers to the changes in behavior and bodily functions due to repeated use of the drug, which has severe consequences.

Question 4. Can we treat drug addiction?

Answer: Yes, drug addiction can be treated. The various treatment methods are behavioral counseling, medication, and treatment of anxiety and depression. There are rehabilitation centers available. This is followed by a check-up to prevent relapse.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Dare Program — Anti-Drug Education: DARE Program

Anti-drug Education: Dare Program

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• The Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign

The Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign - Essay Example

• Subject: Medical science
• Type: Essay
• Level: Medical School
• Pages: 3 (750 words)
• Downloads: 1
• Author: krowe

Extract of sample "The Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign"

"The Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign" is a wonderful example of a paper on the addiction.

The goal of this campaign is to promote the elimination of drug and substance abuse among the youths in order to ensure safety, health as well as their quality of life.

Background Information

In the year 2009, a study was conducted in the United Kingdom that depicted that approximately 22 million people in the UK were facing societal challenges resulting from drug and substance abuse. The study also indicated that about 95% of this group was unaware of the challenges they faced from the use of drugs (Ghodse 2009). However, a small percentage of those who recognized that they faced drug use challenges made efforts to create solutions but were not successful.

  The rationale of the Campaign

            Justification

The use of drugs and substance abuse has a major negative effect in modern society; specifically, it affects families, individuals, communities which directly impacts economic development. The problems associated with drugs and substance abuse are cumulative in nature as they lead to other more extreme dangerous health problems for instance: HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, criminal activities, suicide as well as domestic violence (Times of India 2012).

This campaign will focus on creating awareness among the Youths age 18-25 years; this age group forms the foundation of the future generation and studies have shown that they are the most affected by drugs and substance abuse.

Current Campaign Practices

Various organizations and institutions have made different efforts to curb this menace in the current society; however, their efforts have not been adequately successful, hence creating the need to create more solutions. This is what has been my drive to create this campaign, which I believe will bring a major change in our society (Healthy People 2011).

The most applied technique is awareness creation on various media channels such as radios, television programs as well as internet sources. Despite these efforts, drug and substance abuse challenges have been on the rise for the last four decades (Healthy People 2011).

However certain measures have shown success in the reduction of drug and substance abuse among the youths. One of the successful measures that have been taken is the use of punitive measures implemented by the law (Healthy People 2011).

Planning Process

Health Issue Targeted

This campaign focuses on creating awareness among the youths on the negative effects of using drug and substance abuse.

Methods of Communication Applied

Various means of communication are usually employed to ensure that the information is properly received and taken into consideration. There will be various volunteers who will assist in disseminating the information to the public, specifically, the youth. This information will be disseminated by use of flyers that will contain summarized information containing the negative impacts of drug and substance abuse, pictures of affected body parts as well as the reasons why the youths should stop using drugs. The information contained in the leaflets will be used as a form of encouragement to inform the youth that they have the power to stop drug and substance abuse among themselves.

      Target Areas

The flyers will be distributed randomly in public places such as Shopping Malls, streets, public parks, public resting places like areas with ‘frustration benches’, stadiums, airports, and bus terminals.

                                                      Expected Outcomes

The main expectation of this awareness program will be an enhanced knowledge of the negative effects of drug and substance abuse in society. Additionally, it is expected that there will be reduced negative health effects resulting from drug and substance abuse hence improved economic development.

   Implementation and Evaluation

These activities will be conducted simultaneously; the awareness will be implemented after gathering adequate resources ranging from financial to human resources. At the same time evaluation will be conducted to determine areas of weakness or challenges that may hinder the success of the campaign.

At the end of the campaign evaluation studies will be conducted to determine the efficacy of the campaign in reducing reduce health hazards related to drug and substance abuse. These studies will be conducted by the use of interviews that shall be conducted in major health institutions, the local communities as well as in rehabilitation centers. Consequently, the study will also assist in the determination of whether the campaign was a success or not and the formulation of solutions to future awareness programs.

                             Critique of the Resource Used

One of the probable challenges that the campaign may face is the fact that most people tend to ignore or dismiss the information contained on the fliers as a result of their simple appearance. Moreover, Flyers may not have a long term advantage over the targeted group; studies have shown that the average attention people tend to give to the flyers is forty seconds.

However, our main intention is to create awareness among the youth that the habit of using drugs and other substances is actually dangerous to their health and to the overall society. In as much as most campaigns have been done to create such awareness, I believe that this campaign will also have significant effects among our youths. It will also act as a reminder to the youths that drugs and substance abuse is dangerous.

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By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

Supported each year by individuals, communities, and various organizations all over the world, this global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society.

The evidence is clear: invest in prevention

The global drug problem presents a multifaceted challenge that touches the lives of millions worldwide. From individuals struggling with substance use disorders to communities grappling with the consequences of drug trafficking and organized crime, the impact of drugs is far-reaching and complex. Central to addressing this challenge is the imperative to adopt a scientific evidence-based approach that prioritizes prevention and treatment.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26 June every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. This year’s World Drug Day campaign recognizes that effective drug policies must be rooted in science, research, full respect for human rights, compassion, and a deep understanding of the social, economic, and health implications of drug use.

Together, let us amplify our efforts to combat the global drug problem, guided by the principles of science, compassion, and solidarity. Through collective action and a commitment to evidence-based solutions, we can create a world where individuals are empowered to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

#WorldDrugDay #InvestInPrevention

World Drug Report

Every year, UNODC issues the World Drug Report , full of key statistics and factual data obtained through official sources, a science-based approach and research. UNODC continues to provide facts and practical solutions to address the current world drug problem and remains committed to attaining health for all. Health and justice sectors are under pressure and access to services and support is obstructed when we can least afford it.

Why Is Cocaine Trafficking Surging?

For two decades, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been helping make the world safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism. We are committed to achieving health, security and justice for all by tackling these threats and promoting peace and sustainable well-being as deterrents to them.

The World Drug Report provides a global overview of the supply and demand of opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as their impact on health. It highlights, through improved research and more precise data, that the adverse health consequences of drug use are more widespread than previously thought.

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International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

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• Volume 5, Issue 9
• Are mass-media campaigns effective in preventing drug use? A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis
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• http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1634-8330 Elias Allara 1 , 2 ,
• Marica Ferri 3 ,
• Alessandra Bo 3 ,
• Antonio Gasparrini 4 ,
• Fabrizio Faggiano 1
• 1 Department of Translational Medicine , Università del Piemonte Orientale , Novara , Italy
• 2 School of Public Health, University of Torino , Torino , Italy
• 3 Consequences, Responses and Best Practices Unit , European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction , Lisbon , Portugal
• 4 Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
• Correspondence to Dr Elias Allara; elias.allara{at}med.unipmn.it

Objective To determine whether there is evidence that mass-media campaigns can be effective in reducing illicit drug consumption and the intent to consume.

Design Systematic review of randomised and non-randomised studies.

Methods We searched four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I and CENTRAL) and further explored seven additional resources to obtain both published and unpublished materials. We appraised the quality of included studies using standardised tools. We carried out meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and a pooled analysis of interrupted time-series and controlled before-and-after studies.

Results We identified 19 studies comprising 184 811 participants. Pooled analyses and narrative synthesis provided mixed evidence of effectiveness. Eight interventions evaluated with randomised controlled trials leaned towards no evidence of an effect, both on drug use (standardised mean difference (SMD) −0.02; 95% CI −0.15 to 0.12) and the intention to use drugs (SMD −0.07; 95% CI −0.19 to 0.04). Four campaigns provided some evidence of beneficial effects in preventing drug use and two interventions provided evidence of iatrogenic effects.

Conclusions Studies were considerably heterogeneous in type of mass-media intervention, outcome measures, underlying theory, comparison groups and design. Such factors can contribute to explaining the observed variability in results. Owing to the risk of adverse effects, caution is needed in disseminating mass-media campaigns tackling drug use. Large studies conducted with appropriate methodology are warranted to consolidate the evidence base.

• PUBLIC HEALTH
• Substance misuse < PSYCHIATRY
• Health policy < HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT
• MENTAL HEALTH

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007449

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Strengths and limitations of this study

This systematic review is based on an expanded evidence base of both published and unpublished findings and aims to determine whether mass-media campaigns can be effective in preventing the use of or intention to use illicit drugs.

Pooled analyses of eight mass-media interventions provide no evidence of an effect on drug use or intention to use illicit drugs. Four interventions provide evidence of beneficial effects. Two interventions provide evidence of iatrogenic effects.

Owing to the paucity and inconsistency of available evidence, we cannot draw general conclusions as to whether mass-media interventions are effective in preventing the use of or intention to use illicit drugs.

This review provides an insight into research gaps around the impact of mass-media drug prevention interventions and can serve to highlight that new campaigns should be implemented in the framework of rigorous evaluation studies, in order to avoid dissemination of interventions that are ineffective or have unintended effects.

Introduction

Mass-media campaigns are a powerful means for disseminating health promotion messages. A wide and diverse audience can be reached through television commercials, the Internet, mobile phones, newspapers and roadside advertising hoardings. In the field of drug addiction and dependence, advertisements may contribute to shaping patterns of drug use and the intention to use drugs, as well as modifying mediators such as awareness, knowledge and attitudes about drugs.

However, ethical and economic considerations are often raised. Mass-media campaigns—unlike other health interventions—are imposed on populations that have not consented to their implementation. 1 This is a considerable ethical issue in modern, person-centred public health, where taking decisions shared with the public is essential for promoting behaviour change. Second, mass-media campaigns can be very expensive, especially when implemented at the national or state level. Large-scale purchasing of public service announcement time during popular shows and broad dissemination via printed media are often accessible only to governmental institutions. For example, the first and second versions of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign cost 2.7 billion dollars over more than 10 years. 2 Although such campaigns underwent careful evaluation, most mass-media interventions are not developed in compliance with the classical circle of public health, which consists in designing interventions based on evidence and in evaluating their impact.

A systematic review of the studies assessing media campaigns aiming to prevent use of illicit drugs can inform future strategies and help design effective campaigns. The objective of this review is to assess the effectiveness of mass-media campaigns in preventing or reducing drug use or the intention to use illicit drugs among young people.

We conducted this systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 3 statement and with the procedures specified in a previously published protocol. 4 As described in detail previously, 4 we systematically searched four electronic databases: MEDLINE (1966 to 29 January 2013), EMBASE (1974 to 30 January 2013), ProQuest Dissertations and Theses A&I (1861 to 3 February 2013) and CENTRAL (2013, Issue 1). Search strategies are available as supplementary files (see online supplementary appendix 1). We further explored seven additional resources to obtain both published and unpublished materials: four websites of registered studies (ie, http://www.controlled-trials.com , http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/ , http://clinicaltrials.gov/ , https://eudract.emea.europa.eu/ ), references embedded in book chapters, references included in the annual national reports written by EMCDDA national focal points and any publications recommended by prominent researchers in the field. We did not set any constraints, such as language or time, to our search.

Selection criteria

As described in detail previously, 4 we considered studies involving participants under the age of 26 and evaluating mass-media campaigns explicitly aimed at influencing the use or intention to use illicit drugs. 5 The following were deemed acceptable comparison groups: (1) no intervention; (2) community-based or school-based drug prevention programmes; (3) lower exposure to intervention; (4) time before exposure to intervention. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, interrupted time-series (ITS) studies and controlled before and after (CBA) studies providing evidence on drug use or intention not to use, to reduce use or to stop use of illicit drugs.

Two authors independently inspected search hits by reading titles and abstracts and assessed studies for inclusion. Any disagreement was solved by consensus. Multiple publications pertaining to the same study were collated as one single study.

Quality Appraisal

Four authors independently performed quality assessments, and any disagreement was solved by consensus. We contacted study authors whenever information was missing or unclear.

We used standardised assessment tools for each study design—details are available as supplementary materials (see online supplementary appendix 2). For RCTs, we used the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias assessment tool. 6 For cohort studies, we followed the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Quality Criteria. 7 For ITS and CBA studies, we used the tool recommended by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group. 8

Statistical analysis

As for RCTs, we performed a random effects meta-analysis to estimate the pooled effect of mass-media interventions on drug use while accounting for between-study heterogeneity, as described in detail previously. 4 We carried out a fixed effects meta-analysis to estimate the pooled intervention effect on intention to use drugs. We tested between-study heterogeneity using the χ 2 test and the I 2 statistic. A p value lower than 0.10 in the χ 2 test and an I 2 statistic higher than 50% suggested evidence of heterogeneity. Since most studies assessed their outcome variables with different scales, we used standardised mean difference (SMD) as the summary measure of choice. SMDs were used for both drug use and intention to use drugs and were calculated by dividing the difference in mean outcome between groups by the SD of outcome between participants. 6 SMDs and their SEs were then pooled in a meta-analysis performed with RevMan. 9 For two clustered RCTs, 10 , 11 we inflated SEs to account for within-cluster correlations. 6

We pooled the effect estimates of the Meth Project studies using mixed effects logistic regression. 12–16 An ITS design was applied for estimating the differences in prevalence of methamphetamine use before and after the Meth Project intervention, adjusting for any underlying temporal trend. We fitted the following model: logit(use ij )=β 0 +u 0j +β 1 time i +β 2 age i +β 3 interv i +β 4 age×interv i , in which use was prevalence of methamphetamine use, time was a continuous variable, age and intervention were two-level categorical variables, u 0j was a random intercept and we allowed log odds of methamphetamine use to vary randomly by each jth state. 17 The relatively few data points did not allow exploration of more complex models, for example, the temporal trend could not be assumed to vary randomly across states.

Out of 18 343 titles and abstracts, we selected 24 papers corresponding to 19 individual studies ( figure 1 ).

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PRISMA flow diagram. Adapted from a previous publication. 4

Study Characteristics

Overall, 184 811 participants were included, with most studies comprising participants who were aged between 10 and 19 years ( table 1 ). Although most studies included both boys and girls, two studies focused on girls. 18 , 19 One study considered Asian-Americans as the only ethnic group eligible for inclusion, 18 while the other study did not focus on any specific ethnic groups. Seventeen studies were conducted in the USA, one in the USA and Canada, 19 and one in Australia. 11

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Characteristics of included studies

Eleven studies (58%) evaluated multicomponent interventions, 3 regarding radio/television and printed advertising, 10 , 20 , 21 and 8 regarding radio and television commercials, printed advertisements and Internet advertising. 2 , 12–16 , 22 , 23 Eight studies evaluated standalone interventions, four consisting in radio and television commercials, 24–27 and four in Internet-based interventions. 11 , 18 , 19 , 28 The included studies in this review were grounded in a wide range of underlying theories ( table 1 ).

Comparison groups varied considerably across studies. For thirteen studies (68%), the comparison group consisted in no exposure to any intervention. Four studies compared high exposure versus low exposure to the same mass media intervention. 2 , 21–23 For one study, the comparison group consisted in the standard drug education curriculum. 11 One study had four study arms consisting either in another intervention or no intervention. 26

Eight studies were conducted in an experimental setting by explicitly inviting participants and these studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs). 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 , 25–28 Ten studies were conducted in a field setting without explicitly inviting participants, as would usually happen with most mass-media campaigns. Of them, 2 were cohort studies, 22 , 23 6 were ITS 2 , 12 , 14–16 , 24 and 2 were CBA studies. 13 , 20 One study had a double design as it was conducted in an experimental setting with an RCT design, and in a field setting with a cohort design. 21 When specified, follow-up varied from 6 months 19 , 28 to 4.7 years. 22

Study quality

On the whole, the quality of the RCTs is acceptable ( table 2 ). As described in detail previously, 4 the strongest domain appears to be the risk of attrition bias and the weakest domain the risk of selection bias (unclear description of the randomisation procedure). In one paper, findings of secondary outcomes were reported only as a predictor of the primary outcome, and the paper concerned was deemed at high risk for reporting bias. 19

Risk of bias of included studies

All cohort studies focused on a clear and appropriate question. Subgroup comparisons between participants and dropouts were carried out in only one study. 23 The same study, however, failed to control for potential confounders.

The proportion of participants with no missing data was reported in only one controlled CBA study. 20 Potential confounders were accounted for in only one ITS study 2 and one CBA study. 20 A formal test of trend was not performed in the five Meth Project studies. 12–16 One ITS study 2 and the two CBA studies 13 , 20 had three or less data points, which are generally considered insufficient for drawing reliable conclusions with regard to intervention effectiveness.

Effects of mass-media campaigns

Use of illicit drugs, experimental studies.

Pooled analyses of five RCTs 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 , 28 comprising n=5470 subjects showed no evidence (p=0.79) of an effect of mass-media campaigns in modifying use of illicit drugs (standardised mean difference (SMD) −0.02; 95% CI −0.15 to 0.12; figure 2 and table 3 ). There was some evidence (p=0.020) of heterogeneity between studies.

Main findings for use or intention to use illicit drugs

Pooling of randomised controlled trials. Adapted from a previous publication. 4

The RCT part of a mixed RCT-cohort study (n=3236) found evidence of effectiveness (p=0.026) for a media-community intervention (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.94; table 3 ). 21

Field studies

Two studies found that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (first version) increased use of illicit drugs among adolescents ( table 3 ). One study (n=3529) reported a significant increase in past year-use of marijuana (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.65). 22 The other study (n=2515) found some evidence (‘p<0.05’) of an iatrogenic effect among those aged 15–18 (mean change=0.144), while there was no evidence (‘p>0.05’) of an effect among those aged 13–14 (mean change=−0.022). 23

The revamped version of the same ONDCP campaign, Above the Influence, was found effective in a mixed RCT-cohort study (n=3236), whose cohort part found strong evidence (p<0.001) of effectiveness (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.35). 21 On a similar note were the findings of an ITS study (n=130 245) which evaluated Above the Influence and found evidence of reductions in marijuana use in the past month (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.87) among eighth-grade girls. 2

The pooled findings of the five Meth Project studies (n=26 273) suggested no evidence of a change in past-month use of methamphetamine among subjects aged 12–17 (OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.83 to 1.61), nor among those aged 18–24 (OR 1.63; 95% CI 0.70 to 3.79) ( figure 3 A and table 3 ). There was, however, evidence (p=0.001) of a reduction in past-year use of methamphetamine among those aged 12–17 (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.81), while there was no evidence of a similar effect among those aged 18–24 (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.45; figure 3 B and table 3 ).

Pooling of the meth project interrupted time-series studies: predicted and observed probabilities. Adapted from a previous publication. 4

One ITS (n=6371) showed evidence of effectiveness for past 30-day use of marijuana among high sensation seekers (p=0.001 for the Fayette sample, p=0.001 for the first campaign in the Knox sample, p=0.002 for the second campaign in the Knox sample). 24

One CBA study found an increase in use of LSD (‘p<0.001’; table 3 ) while no evidence (‘p>0.05’) of differences was found for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine and heroin. 20

Intention to use drugs

In one meta-analysis of four randomised controlled studies involving 1270 participants, there was no evidence of an effect (p=0.21) of media campaigns in changing intention to use drugs (SMD −0.07; 95% CI −0.19 to 0.04; figure 2 and table 3 ). 18 , 25–27 There was no evidence (p=0.840) of heterogeneity across studies.

One study (n=2915) found some evidence (p=0.053) of a reduction in intentions to use marijuana (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.00; table 3 ) for the first version of the ONDCP's media campaign. 22

Mass-media campaigns are commonly used throughout the world to tackle a broad array of preventable risk factors or injuries. Such campaigns are seldom evaluated, thus making it difficult to inform policymakers regarding their effectiveness and sustainability. In this panorama of overall uncertainty, mass-media campaigns tackling tobacco and traffic accidents are noteworthy exceptions as they have been evaluated more frequently and have shown some evidence for benefit. 29 In our attempt to summarise evidence on the effectiveness of mass-media campaigns targeting illicit drugs, we included 19 studies evaluating a number of heterogeneous interventions. We grouped interventions according to whether they were evaluated with studies conducted in experimental settings in which participants were aware of being exposed to media interventions, or were assessed with studies carried out in a field environment which are more likely to show the real-life effects of large national media campaigns, but are also more prone to risk of bias.

Findings appear to vary considerably according to the type of intervention and study design. Pooled analyses of eight interventions evaluated in an experimental setting provided no evidence of beneficial effects for use or intention to use illicit drugs, an indicator of possible future behaviour. 30 , 31 Four interventions evaluated with eight field studies revealed some evidence of beneficial effects: (1) the revamped campaign by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) called Above the Influence, which was found effective in one study and effective among eighth-grade girls in another study; (2) the Be Under Your Own Influence media-community intervention; (3) the Meth Project campaign, which was found effective on past-year methamphetamine use, although only among adolescents aged 12–17 years; and (4) the US televised antimarijuana campaigns broadcast in Fayette County (Lexington), Kentucky and in Knox County (Knoxville), Tennessee, which were found to be effective on high-sensation seekers. Two mass media campaigns showed clear iatrogenic effects, most notably, the first version of the ONDCP's media campaign My Anti Drug, which was evaluated by two studies and was found to increase use of marijuana. An adverse effect was also found for a media-community intervention evaluated by a CBA study which provided evidence of increased frequency of LSD use.

No characteristic emerged clearly as a core feature of successful or unsuccessful campaigns, either regarding their explicit or implicit theoretical background or their communication strategies. However, it is worth noting that two out of the four interventions providing evidence of effectiveness, the ONDCP's Above the Influence national campaign and the Be Under Your Own Influence media-community intervention promoted non-use of drugs as a way to support the goals of autonomy and achievement of competence, both of which have been conceptualised as innate psychological needs that persist over the lifespan. 21 Among the interventions which provided evidence of harmful effects, the first version of the ONDCP's media campaign My Anti Drug was based on a social marketing approach which emphasised resistance skills, self-efficacy, normative education and negative consequences of drug use. 32 These mediators are suspected to have increased the perception of prevalence of drug use in the target population. 33

An important reason for the weak evidence obtained by this review is the large variation in mass-media intervention type and study design. Similar interventions were often evaluated with different study designs while different interventions were sometimes evaluated with the same study design. Pooled analyses could thus be undertaken only for a few similar interventions evaluated with the same study design, and such small sets of pooled studies did not allow sensitivity analyses to be carried out. We did not set any time or language constraints to our search, accepted all types of controlled study designs and obtained unpublished data by establishing direct contact with the authors of the original papers. Unfortunately, owing to the paucity and inconsistency of available evidence, we cannot draw general conclusions as to whether media campaigns are effective in preventing the use or the intention to use illicit drugs. This observation is in line with the findings of similar reviews that used more restrictive inclusion criteria. 29 , 34

The evidence base accrued so far on media campaigns targeting illicit drugs allows us to make at least two remarks. First, such campaigns can be evaluated—a fact that is often questioned in several parts of the world—and properly conducted evaluation studies can provide benefits to both research and practice. Second, in the worst-case scenario, media campaigns can be both ineffective and harmful. Contrary to common belief, antidrug media campaigns may be damaging and their dissemination is ethically unacceptable without a prior assessment of their effects. 35 , 36 New campaigns should be implemented in the framework of rigorous evaluation studies, ideally in field settings with cohort or ITS study designs. A better understanding of which media interventions work best is likely to result in a more effective prevention of drug use and increased efficiency in the management of public resources.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Cochrane Drug and Alcohol Group for their support in publishing the Cochrane review from which this paper has been extracted. 4 They thank Gregor Burkhart and V Anna Gyarmathy for their input to the drafting of the protocol for this review, and Marie-Christine Ashby and Fozia Hamid for carefully proofreading the manuscript. The authors are grateful to Ling Fang, John Horan, Nicola Newton, Philip Palmgreen, Joan Polansky, Michael Slater, Jennifer Stagnaro, Violeta Taneva and Marco Yzer for their useful advice and for providing their studies’ unpublished data whenever possible.

• Sumnall HR ,
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• Higgins J ,
• ↵ Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network . Critical appraisal: notes and checklists . 2010 . http://www.sign.ac.uk/methodology/checklists.html (accessed 12 Sep 2010) .
• ↵ Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group . Draft EPOC Methods Paper Including Interrupted Time Series (ITS) Designs in a EPOC Review . 1998 .
• ↵ Review Manager (RevMan) [Computer program]. Version 5.3. Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014 .
• Slater MD ,
• Edwards RW , et al
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• ↵ The Meth Project . Colorado Meth: Use & Attitudes Survey 2011 . 2011 .
• ↵ The Meth Project . Georgia Meth: Use & Attitudes Survey 2011 . 2011 .
• ↵ The Meth Project . Idaho Meth: Use & Attitudes Survey 2010 . 2010 .
• ↵ The Meth Project . Hawaii Meth: Use & Attitudes Survey 2011 . 2011 .
• ↵ The Meth Project . Wyoming Meth: Use & Attitudes Survey 2011 . 2011 .
• Gilmour S ,
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• Miller JH , et al
• Lawrence FR , et al
• Scheier LM ,
• Palmgreen P ,
• Donohew L ,
• Lorch EP , et al
• Polansky JM ,
• Horan JJ , et al
• Cappella JN ,
• Fishbein M , et al
• Cappella J , et al
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• Jacobsohn L ,
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Supplementary materials

Supplementary data.

This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.

• Data supplement 1 - Online supplement
• Data supplement 2 - Online supplement

Note: This article is based on a Cochrane Review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) 2013, Issue 6, DOI: 0.1002/14651858.CD009287.pub2 (see http://www.thecochranelibrary.com for information). Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to feedback, and the CDSR should be consulted for the most recent version of the review.

Contributors EA structured and drafted the paper. MF and FF conceived the systematic review from which the paper originates and overviewed the inclusion of studies and their methodological assessment. MF and EA selected the studies for inclusion. EA and AB extracted the data from the studies and contributed to the writing of the review. EA contacted study authors. EA and AB did the meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. AG and EA conducted the meta-analysis of interrupted time-series studies. All authors regularly discussed each step of the review process and participated equally in each decision regarding the studies and the analysis. They also revised the paper and read and approved the final version of this manuscript.

Funding AG was supported through a Methodology Research fellowship awarded by Medical Research Council-UK (grant ID G1002296). The EMCDDA provided IT equipment and journal access for EA during his traineeship, funding for purchasing of papers not included in standard subscriptions, and funding for the open access publication of this paper.

Competing interests None declared.

Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

Data sharing statement Data and statistical code used for pooled analyses are available and can be requested from the corresponding author (EA, [email protected]).

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THE ANTI -DRUG CAMPAIGN PROGRAMS OF PNP TOWARDS LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN VALENZUELA CITY

• February 2021

• Rizal Technological University

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How Change Rendered Human Rights More Vulnerable: Examining the Anti-Drug Campaign Legal Framework with a Human Rights Lens

ASOG WORKING PAPER 19-006

33 Pages Posted: 23 May 2019

Ma. Araceli B. Habaradas

Ateneo de Manila University - Ateneo Law School

Ray Paolo R. Santiago

Ateneo de Manila University - Ateneo Human Rights Center

Jaymie Ann R. Reyes

Marianne carmel b. agunoy.

Date Written: April 25, 2019

Showing eagerness to jumpstart the war against drugs, the PNP launched on day one of the Duterte Administration Project: Double Barrel with Oplan Tokhang as its highlight. Described as a “practical and realistic means of accelerating the drive against illegal drugs in affected barangays,” Tokhang is a new item in the menu of anti-illegal drug activities of the police. It was immediately conducted “simultaneously nationwide” by local police armed with a succinct directive that house visits will be “conducted to persuade suspected illegal drug personalities to stop their illegal drug activities.” In the first six months, katok-and-hangyo house visits were complemented by parallel persuasion initiatives that translated to more than a million surrenderees — suspected pushers and users combined — whose different rights were exposed and rendered vulnerable along the way. This paper examines the anti-drug campaign legal framework that emerged from the time Oplan Tokhang started, using a human rights lens, and reviews how the many changes in this framework rendered human rights more vulnerable.

Keywords: Drug War, Anti-Drug Campaign, Oplan Tokhang, Philippines

JEL Classification: K00

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Ma. Araceli B. Habaradas (Contact Author)

Ateneo de manila university - ateneo law school ( email ).

#20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center MAKATI CITY, 1200 Philippines

Ray Paolo Santiago

Ateneo de manila university - ateneo human rights center ( email ).

20 Rockwell Drive, Ateneo Professional Schools Makati City Philippines

Jaymie Ann Reyes

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• v.92(8); Aug 2002

THE NATIONAL YOUTH ANTI-DRUG MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Steven h. kelder.

Steven H. Kelder is with the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Cornelia Pechmann is with the Graduate School of Management, University of California, Irvine. Michael D. Slater is with the Department of Journalism and Technical Communication and the Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Ft Collins. John K. Worden is with the Office of Health Promotion Research, University of Vermont, Burlington. Drs Kelder, Pechmann, and Slater are members of the Behavior Change Expert Panel, of which Dr Worden is chairman. Alan Levitt is director of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, DC.

Cornelia Pechmann

Michael d. slater, john k. worden, alan levitt.

We wish to correct misunderstandings about the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, that might result from reading the article by Fishbein et al. in the February 2002 issue of the Journal. 1 The article is critical of some televised antidrug advertisements broadcast from 1996 through 1998, while acknowledging evidence for the possible effectiveness of other ads studied. The authors conclude by recommending experimental tests of such messages before release to the public.

We heartily concur with this recommendation. Virtually all of the antidrug ads tested in the Fishbein et al. study were older ads used at the beginning of the campaign, when lawmakers had authorized initiation of the campaign but before new ads had been developed and rigorously pretested. Readers should be aware that the study’s findings should not be extrapolated to these more recent ads.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy has from the outset emphasized the importance of a research foundation for the campaign and the use of extensive testing of messages to ensure, so far as is possible, that the messages are effective and that taxpayers’ dollars are efficiently used. The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign uses communication strategies based on extensive social science research on adolescent substance abuse. 2 As the campaign developed, draft versions (storyboards) of all ads created for this campaign received increasingly extensive focus group testing across target audiences. They are also reviewed by behavioral scientists to ensure that they are consistent with an approved behavioral influence strategy based in the research literature.

Subsequently, ad execution strategies that are implemented are tested by means of experimental and quasi-experimental designs that evaluate liking of the ad, perceived message communicated by the ad, and, following a Theory of Reasoned Action framework, 3 effects on a variety of relevant beliefs as well as on behavioral intention. As of early 2002, 1 ad from each execution strategy directed at youths has been tested with 500 youths (aged 12 to 17 years) in the treatment condition and 500 youths in the control condition. For ads directed at adults, regarding parenting behavior, the sample size is 200 in each condition. The sample is stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity. Current plans are to expand testing to all television ads, from all strategies.

Any ad for which we find solid evidence of boomerang effects for any ethnic/sexual subgroup is pulled, even if the effects on other subgroups are positive. In other words, not only is this campaign now following many of the procedural recommendations of Fishbein et al., it goes considerably further in terms of measurement and criteria used. We should also note that our continuing efforts to refine this pretesting process owe a considerable debt to work done by Fishbein and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, drawing on both their previous work and their work on the independent campaign evaluation.

Finally, we should comment on the finding by Fishbein et al. that ads directed at marijuana use are often perceived by teenagers to be less effective than ads targeted at harder drugs. We agree that marijuana is a more challenging topic for antidrug ads, as negative consequences of marijuana use are not as easily communicated in a 30-second ad as are the negative consequences of heroin or methamphetamine use. However, existing evidence indicates that use of marijuana by young teenagers is a substantial risk factor for more severe substance use 4, 5 and that marijuana use dwarfs use of hard drugs among America’s adolescents. 6 Therefore, reducing marijuana use, especially among younger teenagers, remains a public health and public policy priority and has been designated a principal objective of the campaign.

Refining effective communication strategies to help reduce marijuana use among young teenagers on the basis of the campaign’s extensive qualitative and quantitative research efforts is an ongoing task and may prove to be one of the primary scientific and creative contributions of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.

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7 big issues at stake in the 2024 election

WASHINGTON — The policy contrasts between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are sharpening as the general election campaign gets fully underway.

But what does the choice represent for ordinary voters and the economic and cultural issues they care about? A rematch between the Democratic incumbent and his Republican predecessor may feel uninspiring to many voters, but the policy stakes are enormous for tens of millions of Americans — and the world.

Here are seven big issues at stake in the 2024 election.

The contrast: Biden favors federal abortion protections; Trump opposes them. Trump supported nationwide restrictions on abortion as president but now downplays the need for a federal ban, as Republicans are divided over the issue. Biden does not support federal limits.

Biden has championed the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill to protect abortion rights in all 50 states under federal law and prohibit medically unnecessary hurdles to accessing the procedure. He has asked voters to send him a Democratic Congress that supports legal abortion to achieve that.

Trump has boasted that he "broke Roe v. Wade" by picking three of the five Supreme Court justices who overturned it, delivering on a four-decade goal of the GOP. More recently, Trump has openly fretted that the backlash may cost him and his party the election. Last week, Trump said the issue should be left to states, a shift from his support for nationwide restrictions when he was president. His new stance has drawn pushback from GOP allies, like Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina , and anti-abortion-rights advocates, who say that he is wrong and that Republicans should not be deterred from their long-standing goal of enacting some nationwide abortion limits.

Some Republicans downplay the prospects of federal abortion restrictions’ passing Congress, even if they win full control. Biden and his allies are telling voters to look at the GOP’s long history of championing federal restrictions and not their recent rhetoric.

Immigration

The contrast: Trump has promised a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and tougher executive actions; Biden is asking Congress to give him more tools to manage an overwhelmed border and create new legal pathways to immigrate to the U.S.

Trump has called existing border laws an existential threat to the U.S., saying migrants are “ poisoning the blood of our country” and bringing new “ languages .” His campaign website says: “President Trump will shut down Biden’s border disaster. He will again end catch-and-release, restore Remain in Mexico , and eliminate asylum fraud. In cooperative states, President Trump will deputize the National Guard and local law enforcement to assist with rapidly removing illegal alien gang members and criminals.”

After having rescinded some of Trump's policies, Biden has recently shifted to support stricter immigration laws as the system remains overwhelmed. He championed a bipartisan bill to raise the bar for gaining asylum, grant more U.S. resources to process asylum claims and turn away migrants who do not qualify, and empower the president to temporarily shut down the border if migration levels hit certain triggers. (Republicans blocked the bill in the Senate amid lobbying by Trump , who wants to use the border as an election issue.) Biden has also endorsed the U.S. Citizenship Act , which would grant a pathway to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally if they pass background checks and pay their taxes.

Fundamentally, Trump has aligned with forces who want less immigration into the country, while Biden has embraced the belief that immigrants make the U.S. better.

Health care and prescription drugs

The contrast: Biden wants to extend Affordable Care Act provisions and empower Medicare to negotiate more prescription drugs; Trump has aggressively criticized the ACA but not offered a health care plan.

Biden, who was vice president when the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, sees it as a cherished achievement to protect and strengthen. The law, also known as "Obamacare," which has extended coverage to 45 million people through subsidies, insurance mandates and a Medicaid expansion, continues to face conservative opposition.

Separately, Biden has touted a provision in his party-line Inflation Reduction Act that empowers Medicare to negotiate lower prices for 10 prescription drugs. He said he wants to boost that to 50 if he is re-elected, with the goal of $200 billion in savings.

Trump spent his four years as president fighting unsuccessfully to repeal and unravel the law — through legislation and executive action and endorsing lawsuits to wipe it out. In November, Trump called for revisiting plans to "terminate" the ACA . He has recently sought to downplay that and insists he only wants to improve the law. But he has not offered a health care plan. Many of his GOP allies in Congress still favor repealing or undoing the ACA, including a budget by the Republican Study Committee, which boasts about 80% of the House GOP conference as members, including Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana.

The contrast: Trump's 2017 tax cuts expire at the end of next year, and he has called for extending them; Biden has called for raising taxes on families earning over $400,000 to fund various priorities.

A series of Trump tax cuts, which Republicans passed on a party-line basis in 2017, expire at the end of 2025. Congress and the winner of the election will decide what happens to them.

In a recent private speech to wealthy donors, Trump s aid his policies include "extending the Trump tax cuts" if he is elected, according to a Trump campaign official. That would preserve lower rates across the income spectrum, with the biggest benefits for top earners.

Biden has attacked that law as a giveaway to the wealthiest Americans, vowing to make "big corporations and the very wealthy finally pay their fair share." He has backed a corporate tax rate hike from 21% to 28% and said that "nobody earning less than $400,000 will pay an additional penny in federal taxes." Biden is also calling for a $3,600-per-child tax cut for families, an $800 average tax break for "front-line workers" and a 25% minimum tax on billionaires, according to a newly released campaign plank.

The expiration of the Trump tax cuts will restore the unlimited federal deduction for state and local taxes, which Republicans had capped at $10,000 in the 2017 law. Republicans broadly support preserving the cap, with some exceptions, while most Democrats want to lift it.

Judges and the Supreme Court

The contrast: Their track records tell a clear story. Trump has picked young conservative judges to serve on the federal bench, while Biden has picked liberals with a focus on professional and personal diversity.

One of the clearest contrasts is what kinds of judges Trump and Biden would pick for lifetime appointments on the federal courts. A simple way for voters to think about it is whether they prefer new judges with the conservative views of Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trump's first Supreme Court pick, or with the liberal views of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden's (so far only) high court pick.

As president, Trump nominated young conservative judges who will serve for generations. Biden has focused on finding judges with diverse backgrounds and résumés, including more civil rights lawyers and public defenders.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether a Supreme Court vacancy will open up in the next four years. The presidential election winner and the party that controls the Senate would fill it.

The contrast: Trump is pushing a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports; Biden's White House opposes that, saying it would raise inflation.

Trump, long a skeptic of U.S. trade deals, has proposed to impose a 10% tariff on all imported goods if he returns to the White House. He recently told Fox News that it could be 60% — or potentially “more than that” — on imports of Chinese goods.

Biden opposes that idea. In a memo over the weekend, the White House slammed the idea of "across-the-board tariffs that would raise taxes and prices by $1,500 per American family," without naming Trump; it referred to an estimate by the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, that Trump's 10% tax on imports could cost an average American household $1,500 per year.

Biden, instead, has sought to boost domestic manufacturing with major federal investments in semiconductors and electric vehicles.

Foreign policy and NATO

The contrast: Biden favors Ukraine aid, while Trump is skeptical of it; Biden supports NATO and a traditional view of American power, while Trump has criticized NATO and voiced some isolationist views.

The clearest example of the foreign policy differences between the two concerns the fate of Ukraine, which is running low on ammunition and says it needs U.S. assistance to continue holding off Russia’s aggression. Biden is an ardent proponent of helping Ukraine, while Trump has poured cold water on U.S. aid to Ukraine and successfully pressured House Republicans to block it since they took the majority in January 2023.

And that points to a deeper divide: Biden is an outspoken supporter of the NATO alliance as a bulwark against adversaries like Russia and China and of preserving the post-World War II order. Trump has dialed up his criticisms of NATO and aligned with a growing isolationist wing in the U.S. that wants to be less involved in global affairs. Trump recently said that as president, he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to member countries who are “delinquent” in their dues.

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

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How Telegram’s Founder Went From Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg to Wanted Man

Pavel Durov’s anti-establishment streak helped him create one of the world’s biggest online platforms, which emphasizes free speech. It also put a target on his back.

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By Paul Mozur and Adam Satariano

Paul Mozur reported from Taipei, Taiwan, and Adam Satariano from London.

More than a decade ago, when Russia pushed Pavel Durov to shut down the pages of opposition politicians on a Facebook-like site he had created, the tech entrepreneur responded online by posting a cheeky picture of a hoodie-wearing dog with its tongue out.

“Official response to the intelligence services to the request to block groups,” he wrote unapologetically.

Thirteen years later, Mr. Durov’s anti-establishment streak appears to have gotten him into a fresh round of trouble with the authorities. On Saturday, he was arrested in France as part of an investigation into criminal activity on Telegram, the online communications tool he founded in 2013, which had grown into a global platform defined by its hands-off approach to policing how users behaved.

On Monday, President Emmanuel Macron of France referred to Mr. Durov’s arrest and said that the country was “deeply committed to freedom of expression” but that “in a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life.”

Mr. Durov’s arrest has caused a firestorm, turning him into a folk hero among those concerned about free speech and government censorship, especially as scrutiny of online content has increased globally. Elon Musk, the owner of X, and Edward Snowden, the American intelligence contractor who fled to Russia after disclosing classified information, were among those who raced to Mr. Durov’s defense. The hashtag #FreePavel spread on X as debate raged over the murky intersection between tech and freedom of speech.

Telegram said in a statement on Sunday that it abides by European Union laws. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” the company said.

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After decades of anti-vaccine rhetoric, RFK Jr. pivots to chronic diseases — and gets Trump on board

Here’s how kennedy could influence trump’s health policy.

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By Isabella Cueto and Sarah Owermohle

Aug. 30, 2024

WASHINGTON — Last month, before he called it quits on a presidential run, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ran social media ads asking, “Is America sicker than it’s ever been?” The link led to a four-question quiz about major health issues including diabetes, autism, drug overdoses, and obesity. 

The quiz highlights what has become a central focus of Kennedy’s political life: chronic disease, particularly among children. In joining the Trump transition team , the former hardcore environmentalist is also pitching himself as a public health guy — and trying to distance himself from the anti-vaccine rhetoric that’s made him famous.

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Here’s how Kennedy might influence Trump’s health policy should the former president win a second term, and what health experts have to say about Kennedy’s theories on the roots of pediatric chronic illness. 

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About the reporting

STAT’s investigation is based on interviews with nearly 100 people around the country, including incarcerated patients and grieving families, prison officials, and legal and medical experts. Reporter Nicholas Florko also filed more than 225 public records requests and combed through thousands of pages of legal filings to tell these stories. His analysis of deaths in custody is based on a special data use agreement between STAT and the Department of Justice.

You can read more about the reporting for this project and the methodology behind our calculations.

The series is the culmination of a reporting fellowship sponsored by the Association of Health Care Journalists and supported by The Commonwealth Fund.

Isabella Cueto

Chronic Disease Reporter

Isabella Cueto covers the leading causes of death and disability: chronic diseases. Her focus includes autoimmune conditions and diseases of the lungs, kidneys, liver (and more). She writes about intriguing research, the promises and pitfalls of treatment, and what can be done about the burden of disease.

Sarah Owermohle

Washington Correspondent

Sarah Owermohle reports on the administration’s health care initiatives, federal health policy, and its intersection with politics and the courts. She joined STAT in 2022 after covering health policy at Politico. She is also the co-author of the free, twice-weekly D.C. Diagnosis newsletter .

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