Anti-Drug PSAs

Dustin Davis

Thesis

• Anti-Drug PSAs illustrate the negative aspects of illegal drug use by informing audiences of health disadvantages, demonstrating scenarios which appeal to the audience’s emotion, and the harmful effects on one’s personal success.

Anti-Drug PSAs

• Looked at 22 PSAs since the 1980s

• 11 are discussed in my text

• I looked at what message was used to appeal to the audience– Health– Emotional– Personal

Health

• Testimonials– Crack Kills (Don’t know

how much it would take to kill you)• Pee Wee, Clint Eastwood,

and Bette Midler

– This is Your Brain on Drugs (1980s)• Father FigureThese characters send a

‘preachy’ message

Emotional (effects on friends/family)

• Narratives– Drug Free World

relatable (empathy/sympathy)

• Love Lost • Flat(Are also able to show health

issues)

• Ninja Turtles –Mix of Testimonial

and Narrative–Uses Humor

Personal Success

• Tends to be joined with health or emotional– This is Your Brain on

DrugsUses all three appeals

– Don’t be an Asterisk• Uses emotional to

undermine personal success