CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
"Crystal Breaks," a yearlong advertising campaign designed to deter crystal meth use among Chicago gay men, entered its second phase with a sobering television commercial now airing on popular cable channels.
The 30-second spot begins with an attractive man high on the drug and ends with the user's body combusting and shattering into pieces. Airing in Chicago on the Bravo, TLC, and MTV networks, the ads are part of the Chicago Crystal Meth Task Force's awareness campaign.
"The campaign targets the homosexual population because they are more at risk, but it doesn't matter who you are, because crystal meth is such a huge epidemic," said Erin Donahue, corporate affairs representative at Leo Burnett USA, the parent company of advertising agency Lapiz, which created the campaign pro bono.
"We're hoping to get more national attention and eventually air [the commercials] nationwide," Donahue said.
The television advertising is coordinated with print ads, outside billboards, radio spots, and a Web site that all carry the same message: Meth shatters lives.
This marketing phase follows the campaign's surprise kickoff, which played out during Chicago's Northalsted Market Days festival on August 6. During an act by drag queen Lady Bunny, a glass-encased image of two men embracing was shown to the audience, and minutes later four recovering meth users took hammers to the glass. Simultaneously, two banners on each side of the stage unfurled, revealing statistics about the drug. (Neal Broverman, Advocate.com)
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
31 Period Films of Lesbians and Bi Women in Love That Will Take You Back
December 09 2024 1:00 PM
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago
August 16 2024 5:57 PM
These 13 major companies caved to the far right and stopped DEI programs
January 24 2025 1:11 PM
True
Latest Stories
It's time to build a sustainable future for LGBTQ+ advocacy work. Here's why
February 06 2025 7:00 AM
Democratic congressmen: Federal personnel office can't discriminate against trans Americans
February 05 2025 8:19 PM
Trump moves to ban international transgender athletes from 2028 Olympic Games
February 05 2025 5:21 PM
Donald Trump bans transgender athletes from playing sports
February 05 2025 4:15 PM
West Point military academy eliminates cadet clubs amid Trump’s diversity crackdown
February 05 2025 2:42 PM
15 Democratic state AGs stand by gender-affirming care
February 05 2025 2:39 PM
American satisfaction with state of LGBTQ+ rights reaches lowest point in over a decade
February 05 2025 2:05 PM
LGBTQ+ non-U.S. citizens at risk under Trump’s immigration crackdown: study
February 05 2025 12:56 PM
Lesbian cop wins $750k in sexual harassment lawsuit against former chief
February 05 2025 11:53 AM