But does it?

Governmental bodies are constantly striving to reach those who indulge in illegal substances and get them to stop, or alternatively catch curious people before they dabble and put them off. However, and I've always wondered, do their efforts actually have any effect, in either case?

For example: The below work carried out on behalf of the Scottish Government to focus on the negative & dangerous effects of Cocaine, is based upon the traditional playing card, it looks good, wouldn't be out of place within the pages of NME and is interesting enough for people to actually look at it, but does the message work? Another anti-cocaine campaign carried out by the same government in 2006, according to an article in the Scotsman, definitely didn't!

2009/2010 anti-cocaine campaign: The Scottish Government

Advertsing agency: The Leith

Designer: Steve Bonner