Pete's Couch

From SSDPedia

Pete's Couch is an anti-marijuana public service announcement produced by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The video features 3 teens on a couch; "Pete" narrates the commercial and the other two are passed out from being high.

"Pete" claims, "I smoked weed and nobody died. I didn't get into a car accident, I didn't OD on heroin the next day, nothing happened... safest thing in the world."

"Pete's Couch" gained publicity because it contradicts many of the other ONDCP anti-marijuana ads, which claim that if you get high, you will shoot your friend in the face, run over a girl on a bicycle, stick your fist in your mouth, melt, or have your girlfriend wooed by a space alien.

[edit] Above the Influence Website

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is responsible for the Above the Influence commercials and website. On the website "Pete" has become the ONDCP's claim that marijuana use will ruin your life. Using fictional stories, letters, emails, and phone conversations, the website takes the commercial further and explains how Pete's friends, family, boss, and girlfriend are upset with his marijuana use. The site features an interactive couch with items that can be clicked to produce an animation explaining how marijuana affected that particular part of Pete's life. For example, click on Pete's guitar and hear his old band mate leave a message telling Pete to come over and practice music, which he hasn't done since first smoking marijuana.

[edit] Links

• "Pete's Couch" ad on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yfEvfJ9XAw
• Interactive Couch: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/fun/petes-couch.aspx