FRANK (drugs)

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FRANK is an United Kingdom government's national anti-drug campaign.

It is advertised and promoted on internet and British TV. The campaign is principally aimed at teenagers and young adults.

FRANK aims to ensure that:

Young people understand the risks and dangers of drugs and their use
Young people know where to go for advice or help
Parents have the confidence and knowledge to talk to their children about drugs
Professionals who work with young people, especially vulnerable groups, are supported

[edit] Criticism

FRANK has been criticised by many for a lack of information about drugs in terms of safety in use or preparation, but instead merely presenting reasons for those already not taking drugs to continue not taking them. FRANK has also been accused of telling scare stories, rather than presenting a balanced view of narcotics and their effects.

FRANK has also been accused of presenting misleading, and in some cases entirely false, information about drugs. One example occurred in 2007 when the site had to remove an article entitled "Cannibis Explained" after several groups pointed out glaring errors in the information presented^[1] ^[2]

As of May 2008, FRANK continues to claim on its site that there's a link between cannabis and schizophrenic psychosis when scientific analysis has already refuted such claims. FRANK often mirrors government policy and understanding in terms of drug abuse, rather than recreational drug use.^{[citation needed]}