Shocking Campaign Against Drug Use: Minister Bruno Retailleau Warns Consumers

On February 6, 2025, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, unveiled a new communication campaign aimed at “guilting” drug consumers, an approach he fully supports. The 30-second video, part of this campaign, depicts drug use in festive settings, with shocking images: a line of cocaine catching fire, spreading to a car, a streetlight, and a child’s teddy bear. The final message underscores the dramatic consequences of buying drugs: “Every day, people pay the price for the drugs you buy.”

A Campaign Funded by Drug Dealers’ Confiscated Assets

Financed by funds seized from drug traffickers, this video aims to break the “recreational culture” surrounding drug use and send a strong message to consumers. Bruno Retailleau emphasized that this campaign is not about raising awareness, but about “guilting” consumers. While acknowledging the existence of serious addictions, he made it clear that as Minister of the Interior, his role is to ensure public order, not to address health issues.

Alarming Statistics and Intensified Fight Against Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking statistics in France are alarming: in 2024, France seized 53.5 tons of cocaine, a 130% increase compared to 2023. Seizures of synthetic drugs also rose, notably ecstasy and MDMA, while cannabis-related seizures decreased. Violence linked to drug trafficking, although slightly lower than in 2023, still caused numerous victims, with 110 deaths and 341 injuries in 2024.

Bruno Retailleau also announced his intention to elevate the fight against drug trafficking to a national cause, placing it on the same level as the fight against terrorism, and expressed concern over the rise of cocaine trafficking, which he called a “white tsunami.” This campaign is part of an increasingly concerning context for both public safety and public health in France.