The drug Czar's anti-drug media campaign: continuing concerns

In reviewing the anti-drug media campaign organized by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), we expressed concern about both its strategic direction and execution (Journal of Health Communication, 1999, 4:2 155-160). The response from ONDCP's director, General Barry R. McCaffrey, still leaves us concerned about the campaign's chances for success. We review ONDCP's strong opposition to including alcohol in the campaign, its continued reliance on fear appeals, and its relative inattention to building support for environmental prevention strategies. We voice again our concerns about ONDCP's underutilization of an expert review committee of behavioral scientists.