You might question your own level of sobriety after watching this bizarre Aussie “anti-drug” campaign that has gone viral. “Stoner Sloth” is a series of videos supposedly meant to discourage teens from smoking pot. The video depicts people in giant sloth costumes, to show how “high” they are, as they struggle to complete various tasks—like studying or socializing with their peers.
At the end of each ad, the sloth runs into various problems—from public humiliation to failing in school. Using the tagline “you’re worse on weed,” the ads are meant to create awareness about the effects of marijuana, and “encourage positive behaviors before bad habits start, and motivate discontinued use before teenagers become highly dependent,” said a statement issued by Australia’s Department of Premier and Cabinet, who created the campaign.
“The campaign is designed to appeal to, and be ‘shareable’ among, teenagers, who are some of the most vulnerable to cannabis use,” said the statement. “We know that younger audiences respond more to campaigns highlighting the short-term consequences of their actions.” It looks like attempts to make the campaign go viral have proved successful: the YouTube video has been watched nearly 11 million times since it was published in October. Though whether or not it has actually discouraged any young people from smoking pot can not be confirmed.
The campaign is so strange that many people have questioned whether or not it’s satire. “I literally can’t tell if it’s satire or legit,” commented one viewer on Facebook. To which “Stoner Sloth” replied “it’s legit.” “That didn’t help one bit,” responded the original commenter. But whether the video makes you less or more likely to smoke pot, it is likely to make you wonder: “Am I high?”
Check out the bizarre PSAs below.
