Some adults may have the strongest memories of McGruff the Crime Dog. In a series of grim and uplifting public service advertisements on television during the 1980s and 1990s, the animated bloodhound in a trench coat cautioned kids about the risks of drug use. In an advertisement, McGruff depicted the near-kidnapping of a young girl wearing pigtails and said, “If she gets into that car, you may be looking at Jenny for the last time.” McGruff was also candid about stranger danger and kidnappings. Perhaps the most famous, though, are McGruff’s insistence that people “Take A Bite Out Of Crime.”
The Trump administration has now cut off federal funding for a program that, in recent years, sought to integrate McGruff into current initiatives to shield youth from the dangers of fentanyl and fake prescription drugs. Proponents worry that any reductions to public education initiatives on drugs could undo the gains made in the fight against drugs in the twenty-first century.
Although McGruff continues to battle crime, his message has changed since the days of singing “Users are Losers” in the park.The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, part of the Commerce Department, and the National Crime Prevention Council announced a redesign of McGruff and the new campaign for the crime hound, Go For Real, in 2020. The collaboration aimed to increase public awareness of the risks associated with fentanyl-laced medications and fake goods.
According to Council Executive Director Paul DelPonte, removing Go For Real will have a significant impact even though the roughly $2 million loss may be little by government standards.
“The effort is crucial, and the outcomes have the potential to have an effect. In this instance, we’re actually talking about saving lives and having a life-or-death effect,” DelPonte told NPR.
McGruff now uses social media to caution children about purchasing medications online, telling them to “Think Again.” The criminal dog continues to appear in school curricula and public service announcements on television and radio. McGruff costumes are also worn by police departments and other law enforcement organizations nationwide at public safety events such as National Night Out.
The group says it has changed plans and timelines since the government ordered the National Crime Prevention Council to immediately halt campaign activity in February. In an attempt to make money, it accelerated the release of McGruff’s True Crime Prevention Podcast. However, DelPonte claims that even with donated airtime, it will not be able to produce a new McGruff PSA this year. Additionally, government-funded research on how children think when using social media was abruptly discontinued by the council.
Drop in drug deaths
According to the most recent federal data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal organizations, drug-related mortality among youth have decreased by almost half in recent years. The number of fatal overdoses among those under 35 years old decreased from nearly 31,000 in 2021 to 16,690 last year, according to preliminary CDC data.
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DelPonte is concerned that if further anti-drug programs are trimmed, such advances might be reversed.
“The administration has put a lot of emphasis on fighting fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexican border,” he stated. “That is only one aspect of the fentanyl problem. Many others need and deserve equal attention, but at the moment, they aren’t receiving it.
By cutting agencies and programs, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been trying to reduce the size of the federal government and its budget. Regarding the funding reduction, the Patent and Trademark Office declined to respond to NPR.
In the past, the Department of Justice collaborated with McGruff and the council. According to DelPonte, government funding for initiatives like Go For Real has been declining for a number of years.
“We certainly think there was more the previous administration could have done. We think everyone is capable of more,” he stated.
Steps to curb illegal fentanyl
The HALT Fentanyl Act was signed into law by President Trump in July. Under the Controlled compounds Act, fentanyl-related compounds, such as heroin, are permanently classified as Schedule I drugs. Trump stood next to families who lost loved ones to fentanyl and said the measure was “delivering another defeat for the savage drug smugglers and criminals and the cartels.”
The bipartisan bill, presented by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), calls for harsher penalties for chemicals linked to fentanyl.
Kelly told NPR that the administration’s move to shut down Go For Real is disingenuous given Trump’s tough position on fentanyl at the borders. Kelly is from a border state where fentanyl enters the country from Mexico.
“I was surprised that McGruff was DOGEd. This president frequently discusses fentanyl crossing the border. Additionally, the fentanyl epidemic is killing people nationwide, not only in my area,” Kelly stated. “We need tools to deal with this and one ofthose tools is a public education campaign.”
In May, Kelly also presented the bipartisan Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act alongside Senators Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Chris Coons, D-Del. The bill would provide funding for public service announcements aimed at educating youth about the risks associated with drug use.
The effectiveness of some anti-drug programs is questioned
Experts have questioned the success of several anti-drug efforts throughout the years, such as “Just Say No” by D.A.R.E. in the 1980s and 1990s. The slogan was promoted by former first lady Nancy Reagan, who used it as the catchphrase for the nation’s fight on drugs at the time.However, several studies have indicated that in order to effectively prevent drug usage among youth, a more sophisticated strategy is needed. Later on, D.A.R.E. made changes to its program.
DelPonte claims that Go For Real was connecting with young people and that McGruff has changed. Data on the possible reach of his organization’s public service announcements and other content is one way it gauges efficacy. By hearing their stories and speaking up for them, the National Crime Prevention Council also works closely with families impacted by the fentanyl crisis.
His words, “We’ve seen tremendous success,” For a moment, I believe it’s critical that people imagine themselves in the position of one of these parents who lost a youngster to the negative effects of social media and fentanyl. Being a parent is a difficult job. Additionally, every parent of an adolescent will tell you that their job is really difficult.
According to DelPonte, McGruff will keep up his efforts to “Take A Bite Out Of Crime.” It is the aim of the National Crime Prevention Council that private funders would keep coming forward.
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