# Dumb commerical - Leeches can't get you high **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 9, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271 "2007-03-09T17:16:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andrew\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/da6949/32.png) [@Andrew\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bird)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/1 "2007-03-09T17:16:31Z")
Do leeches get you high? No. Thus, they are nothing like a drug. If I could get the effect of cocaine from sticking leeches on myself, I would. But I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/2 "2007-03-09T17:24:06Z")
What? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/3 "2007-03-09T17:25:31Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] What? 😕 [/QUOTE] Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/4 "2007-03-09T17:25:52Z")
You may know about the mysterious production of eggs, but I haven’t a clue what you’re on about. Are alternative therapies _really_ diversifying into new markets? “Hey, man, don’t go to those evidence-based dealers. Try sticking _this_ up your nose…” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/5 "2007-03-09T17:29:57Z")
Well, there’s an anti-marajuana ad out there about teenagers sticking leeches on themselves, with the message being, “Smoking pot is dumb, like sticking leeches on you, and just because everybody’s doing it doesn’t make it any less dumb.” I thought it was kind of funny. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/6 "2007-03-09T17:35:06Z")
[Here](http://youtube.com/watch?v=AXcCnKh1jzs) is the PSA in question, for the clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/7 "2007-03-09T17:35:07Z")
Agreed. I posted about it in a thread on [disturbing commercials](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=408035&page=1&pp=50). > [@](#): > > The latest installment in a whole slew of anti-drug commercials targeting teens shows leeches hanging off various people’s limbs. Leeches are disgusting, disgusting creatures. I do not want to see them ever, and especially not if I’m snacking in front of the TV, for God’s sake. > > On top of that, the entire premise of the commercial is ridiculous and, of course, insulting to its ostensible target demographic. Putting a leech on your skin is in no way the equivalent of smoking pot; moreover, it assumes that peer pressure is the key reason kids would want to smoke. Ludicrous. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/8 "2007-03-09T17:36:11Z")
Wait… you don’t snort the leeches? Dammit! Why don these dings come wid indrucdions? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/9 "2007-03-09T17:37:16Z")
The War on Drugs has been handled so horribly over the years, so why would you expect anti-drug commercials to be even slightly intelligent? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/10 "2007-03-09T17:40:53Z")
Actually, I’m thinking that if you do enough leeches, you might get pretty light headed. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/11 "2007-03-09T17:43:16Z")
[Morphine-like substance in leech ganglia](http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046%2Fj.1432-1327.2000.01239.x) Stupid Teenagers, you’ve got to **smoke** the leeches to catch a buzz! ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/12 "2007-03-09T17:45:54Z")
Whoever made that commercial is high. I have a pet hypothesis that these commercials cause a spike in marijuana activity. “Oh yeah, weed! I haven’t had that in awhile…” ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/13 "2007-03-09T17:50:54Z")
[QUOTE=Andrew Bird] If I could get the effect of cocaine from sticking leeches on myself, I would. [/QUOTE] I’m afraid that we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Kicking would be a bitch, too… _“Some get their kicks from a leech The whole human race can put them onto their face And that would bore me terrifically too But I get a kick out of you”_ Nah, just doesn’t have the same feel… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/14 "2007-03-09T17:53:23Z")
[QUOTE=mstay] I have a pet hypothesis that these commercials cause a spike in marijuana activity. “Oh yeah, weed! I haven’t had that in awhile…” [/QUOTE] But… but… pot dealers support terrorism! How could anyone want to spark up after those commercials? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/15 "2007-03-09T18:05:30Z")
I thought it was a pretty clever idea. Smoking, these days anyway, is not in vogue, most folks don’t like getting shots, I’ve never snorted _anything_, but to get get high? Sure I’ll try that! A few folks licked toads, remember? Anything to get high, though, right? ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/16 "2007-03-09T18:16:12Z")
I get so irritated when I see that ad. How they can even compare the two is insane. It’s like you mother saying, “Well, if your best friend jumped off a bridge, would you?” It’s not about doing something just because your friends are. It’s about doing something that feels good. I’ve never experienced the two, but I wouldn’t think that jumping off a bridge or putting leeches on me would feel all that good. [QUOTE=mstay] Whoever made that commercial is high. I have a pet hypothesis that these commercials cause a spike in marijuana activity. “Oh yeah, weed! I haven’t had that in awhile…” [/QUOTE] That’s possible. My husband quit smoking cigarettes and he says that every time he sees an anti-smoking commercial, he wants a cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/17 "2007-03-09T18:16:20Z")
Yeah, it’s more about the lemming-like attitudes of teenagers and the cluelessness of adults of the habits of teens as it is about drugs. It’s just another way to say, “If your friends jumped off a bridge…” If you think it’s suggesting leeches = drugs you’re seeing it very, very wrong. Personally, I think the message is very effective, but I see teenage peer-pressure every day and may have a different perspective. [QUOTE=Nutty Bunny] How they can even compare the two is insane. It’s like you mother saying, “Well, if your best friend jumped off a bridge, would you?” It’s not about doing something just because your friends are. It’s about doing something that feels good. [/QUOTE] Heh, saw this after I posted. Again, they’re NOT comparing the two. They’re comparing the ATTITUDE, and that’s very, very valid. And yes, believe me when I tell you that high school students will do things because their friends are. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/18 "2007-03-09T18:25:44Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] And yes, believe me when I tell you that high school students will do things because their friends are. [/QUOTE] Of course they do. And so do older folks. But as noted, that’s not ultimately why people do drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/19 "2007-03-09T18:26:28Z")
Hmmmm, well, I guess if you stuck enough leeches on, you might get a teeny-tiny widdle-bitty buzz from the blood loss. If you did it on the top of a mountain. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271/20 "2007-03-09T19:01:16Z")
Yeah, but would you stick leeches on you and jump off a roof if your friends did it? Eh, Mister Smarty-Pants?! Go to your room! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-commerical-leeches-cant-get-you-high/395271.md?page=2)