It is sort of an empty phrase that was used as part of an anti-drug campaign. It meant that if parents got closer to their children, to the point of hugging them more, then their children would not feel as alienated and therefore would not be as likely to use drugs. It was about as effective as the slogan "Just say no." - When friends offer you drugs or a boy pressures a girl to have sex, they should just say no. It would be good if that happened, but empty slogans won't be the motivating factor.

It's a slogan by an anti-drug campaign. I don't know what it means. Some people have argued that "Hugs not drugs" will encourage less drugs, but more sex. In U.S. schools there is a lot of ineffective anti-drug education. At my school we watch D.A.R.E. videos. Everything from "Just say no," "Hugs not drugs", "get high on life, not drugs," "Wasted? So is your life, (this one is actually good)" "Too smart to start", and my favorite: "Shoot for the stars, not your arms." "Crack is whack". Was forced to sing this last year in school (Health class): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAnqME7VGcE D.A.R.E. program is the most amusing. which aims to prevent violence and drug abuse in children and teenagers, and also tries to help the kiddies not get raped or killed by strangers. We even have D.A.R.E. in high schools. (At mine at least.) It's not as popular as it used to be. it was deemed ineffective and doesn't receive government funding anymore. but we watch a lot of the "Retro Bill" (D.A.R.E. mascot) videos in Health class, even though we are 14-17 years old. Take a look at the future of America. No wonder there is lots of unprovoked gun violence here. This is how we are educated about safety, at least where I live. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWUtrBTmYvw Retro Bill: "What should you do if you find a gun?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v3FOFzf9XY Traffic safety http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TC76Qab-9I RETro bill