Secondary Research for PSB Advert

For our coursework project, we have chosen to create a PSB advert on the effects of drugs and also to create awareness of drugs as we do not think there are many adverts out there that actually target this theme. However, I have been able to find a few adverts, websites and research about the drug support already out there and have analysed them. 


http://www.talktofrank.com/


Talk To Frank is a well known website that includes everything about the different types of drugs there are and the effects of them. It also offers support for those who need it most, whether they be a victim of drug abuse, or a watcher of other users. This site includes links such as: 'The A-Z of drugs', 'Join In', 'Talk to Frank', 'Worried about someone', 'Need Help', and 'Share'. Overall, I think this website is really effective, however, whether people actually use it and take it into account or not, is another question. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LnA-xCz5U8


As well as having a website, talk to frank also show many effective adverts. The advert I have chosen to research is the most recent which includes Pablo the mule. I agree that this advert is effective to the extent that it is using a cute animal throughout the advert and this may target people's emotions and make them question themselves as to why they do it. However, I also agree that it is not effective at all because, in my opinion, showing a funnier side to the use of drugs, and I do not believe this will make people question their drug abuse. 




Throughout my research I also found an interesting table which shows how many days it would take for people to test positive from certain drugs. 

The cut-off levels are set at a point that is high enough to rule out passive smoking and low enough to ensure that a patient must have abstained from the drug to test negative.

Alcohol (Breath / Saliva)	1 hour per unit consumed
Amphetamines	2 - 6 days
Barbiturates	3 - 8 days
Benzodiazepines	2 - 14 days
Cannabis (THC)	Typically 14 - 28 days, but a one-off use may be undetectable in 5 days.
Cocaine	2 - 5 days
Methadone	2 - 7 days
Methamphetamines	2 - 6 days
Opiates	2 - 5 days
PCP	2 - 6 days

Overall, throughout my research, i cannot find many drug awareness campaign adverts that target a specific audience, or that are even very effective.