Frank anti-cannabis ad confronts brain damage effects

by Alex Donohue, Brand Republic 23-Oct-06, 09:00

LONDON - A government anti-cannabis advertising campaign is set to hit UK TV screens today, aiming to warn teenagers of the long-term health risks of smoking and ingesting the drug.

The ads, created by Mother, feature cannabis users replacing their damaged brains, memory stalks and cerebral fluid with new ones in a futuristic-looking shop in west London.

Frank, the drugs advisory service funded by the Department of Health, the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills, commissioned the ads to highlight 20 symptoms relating to cannabis use, including paranoia, memory loss, nausea and indolence.

A spokesperson for Frank said: "It's important that young people know the risks about cannabis. It's the illegal drug they are most likely to come across, and some people mistakenly think it is harmless.

"Cannabis can increase the risk of mental health problems in some, especially if these things run in the family."

However, the ad has been criticised by mental health charity Rethink, for not showing the full dangers of cannabis use.

Paul Corry, director of public affairs at Rethink, said: "Rethink believes these ads fall short of the commitment given by the then home secretary Charles Clarke for a massive health education campaign highlighting mental health risks."

The Talk To Frank website offers young people a range of advice on the effects and hazards of drug abuse.

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