I am a child of the crack epidemic. I mean I wasn’t really old enough to have contributed, but it was these years, 1985-1990, that I became aware of my existence. I learned how to read, to write, to lie, to play sports and just about everything else you learn how to do when you’re a kid. These were some seriously productive years for me. But in a way, it was nice to be a kid in New York City during these years because while I had some idea that drugs were out there and older people liked them, my age sheltered me from the harsh realities of crack addiction. I was so young that I thought crackheads were just “crazy people” and I would laugh them off with an eye-roll or a cuckoo gesture. While the “War on Drugs” is often considered a failure, I think, as someone who sprouted during this era, that this government initiative actually worked. Well, for me at least. I mean from what I know now, I grew up with crack-cocaine all around me and look at me. I’m totally drug-free. Something must have set me on the right path and now, as an adult, I think I know what it was. When I was a kid, sitting on the floor watching TV, unbeknownst to me, my government was fighting me in a psychological war…and winning. Before my eyes each day was the scariest, slimiest imagery imaginable for a small child–those sleazy anti-drug commercials. As graphic and frightening as these ads were, maybe they saved my life. After all, these commercials showed me there’s an alternative to drugs. They showed me that the streets are no place for a kid like me. They showed me that if I tried drugs, I’d might just end up a black dude who turns into a snake.
These are the Top 10 Reasons Why I’m Drug-Free
I too have learned from anti “drug ” commercials. For instance, NOW I know that if I go to a fast food drive through soon after indulging in a moderate to significant amount of reefer, I will 1) be laughing very hard (almost maniacally, in fact) and 2) it is more than likely that I will run over a small child (who for some inexplicable reason is riding her bike across the drive through lane). Incident 2 will put a veritable damper on incident 1.
It’s good to know someone else understands the fascinating truths about the late 80s.
What was “Jessie” from SBBBon when she decided to make “Showgirls”. Whatever, it was a gateway drug to her actual Performance in it. The Ninja Turtles were not only portrayed as stoners, but undoubtedly invented
by them, too–that’s got wine and pot buzz written all over it!.
Want to know whats fucked up? I went to school with the “dealer”. His name is Jeff, cant remember his last name. But THIS was a surprise. Thanks for the memories!
From 1986 to 1990 I lived in Poland. When Polish media began talking about the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” craze sweeping the USA I made sure all my friends knew that it was just evil Kremlin propaganda. In 1991 I came back, found out it was real and began hoovering all the drugs I could find.
Pee-Wee should do some GOP ads these days
Apparently the person who wrote this has not only been saved by the governments psychological battle, but has also been brain washed by it. I”m personally completely for the tv ads, the ones that aren’t distorted, because they let people know what the hell is up. But the war on drugs isn’t working by any stretch of the imagination. The only thing that the “War on Drugs” has accomplished is to upgrade the United States to a more policed state, put innocent people behind bars simply for enjoy themselves at no one elses expense, and actually increased the amount of drugs that have been brought to the country. Phft, War on drugs, more like “We have nothing better to do, so lets waste money on a plan that hasn’t worked for years, and continue to do so. Despite how many lives we will ruin in the process. But it’s ok, because people who take drugs are also satan worshipers”
I thoroughly enjoyed your commments on the racist comedian. Sarah Silverman is one very funny girl. I also thought the dialogue was very amusing. Plus you want to hear something crazy? The Trojans hadn’t scored in single digits this decade. Good array of articles.
From your writings, I guess were are around the same age. I too grew upi in NYC during the 80’s and it’s amazing that I remembered each and every one of these commercials. I was even able to recite the Ninja Turtle’s one word-for-word. Although, instead of the Golden Girls one, I would have put the one with all the little kids singing the song: “Drugs and alcohol are both the same. They make soup out of your brain…”
Because Rachel Leigh Cook is soooo hot, and I was listening when she went off in that kitchen in her old PSA.
I remember the commercial with the snake dude and it scared the shit out of me. Not because he looked like a snake, but more like something from star trek. Guess what 20 years later Im lighting a fat blunt(reefer) and watching that commercial..HAHAHAHA, good times!
Maybe the reason peewee herman was holding the crack vial in his hands all that time was because he was going to smoke it before he jacked of in the movie theatre
I think that was very good. When I scanned through it, it really mad me think about drugs and why not to use them. So. very good.
Drugs and alcohol are both the same! They make soup out of your brain! I don’t want to be pea soup, I don’t want to be potato. I don’t want to be chicken soup, I just wanna be ME!!!!
Where can I find a video or clip of that PSA. I’ve been singing it to my co-workers and they don’t believe it exist lol.
“Drugs and alcohol are both the same! They make soup out of your brain! I don’t want to be pea soup, I don’t want to be potato. I don’t want to be chicken soup, I just wanna be ME!!!!”