Drug Taking Trivialized! No, Wait. It's an Anti-Drug Ad!

"I was absolutely outraged when this was brought to my attention. To trivialize drug-taking in this way is completely irresponsible and unacceptable. I am shocked that advertising could sink to such low depths. I find it unacceptable that a local magazine aimed at young and impressionable people would stoop to such a level in an attempt to gain readers." So said Bedford (in the UK) borough councilor Andrew McConnell to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Here we go again. OK. Everyone stand up. Right now. Right there in your cube, office or conference room and scream, "Ban that ad! Ban that ad! Ban that ad!" Fell better? We didn't think so. Do you even care? Nope. Didn't think so either. You might actually care more about what sites like http://www.centers.org say about drug addiction than the ad itself.

The publication in which the ad ran, 6Minute, responded to McConnell's complaint by explaining the ad was actually part of a anti-drug campaign and, through a spokeswoman, said, "The Music Junkie image is part of our Addicted to Music campaign which, in conjunction with drink and drug awareness agencies, is a very specific anti-drug campaign. In no way does the image in question promote the use of drugs.

"It was a considered and creative piece of photography which portrays choosing positive life influences such as music over drug use. This message is clearly implied in the image by the model pushing away the white powder and instead choosing to be surround by music, signified by the CDs and headphones."

Well that clears everything up, right? Next.