Say “No” to Drugs Quotes from Nancy Reagan (INFOGRAPHIC)

Say “No” To Drugs Quotes

The “Say ‘No’ to Drugs” campaign may have meant well, but effectively served as a complementary campaign to the “War on Drugs” begun in the early to mid 1980’s.  Much literature and criticism of the “War on Drugs”, exists….which basically has imprisoned (rather than treat) drug users, abuser, or addicts…and has created an industry that spends 50+ billions of dollars in “fighting” traffickers per year.  More on the War on Drugs Statistics here.

Here, we present – in her own words – First Lady Nancy Reagan’s quotes about saying “No” to drugs.  Taken from public speeches she made, mainly during the second term of husband President Ronald Reagan, these quotes help present a political context for how Americans view alcohol and drug use today.

As always, we invite your comments and feedback in the section below.

Reference Sources:

1. Reagan, N. 1980’s “Just Say NO” campaign, Available at: reaganfoundation.org

2. Reagan, N. 14 Sep 1986, “Just Say NO” Address to the nation, Available at: cnn.com

3. Reagan, N. “Role of a Lifetime” [movie], act 4, Available at: docstoc.com

4. McNulty, 15 Sep 1986, Chicago Tribune, Reagans Say Yes to Drug War, Available at: articles.chicagotribune.com

5. Hess, D. 15 Sep 1986, The Evening Independent, Reagans urge ‘intolerance’ for drug use, Available at: news.google.com

6. Messe, E.3rd, 17 Jun 19897, International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Austria, Available at: justice.gov

7. Elwood, N.W. 1 Jan 1994, Rhetoric in the War on Drugs: The Triumphs and Tragedies of Public Relations [book], Available at: books.google.mk

About the author

Lee Weber

Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.