Name(s):
Drug abuse by community leaders
Alcohol abuse by people of authority
Claim
Because drug addiction is most often an unwanted outcome of self-indulgent behaviour by the inexperienced, uninformed and impressionable, role models and those who influence public opinion and values have clear social responsibilities in discouraging substance abuse. Public personalities, be they athletes, actors, musicians or others, all have a special responsibility to keep their public lives above suspicion of drug use. Parents and parent groups are especially effective in preventing the use of drugs by children. Private businesses, including advertising companies, mass media and others, have unique capabilities for communicating accurate information about drug abuse in a credible way to large segments of the population.