#JustSayMoschino: New Capsule Collection Causes Outrage
October 11, 2016

Moschino, a well-known luxury fashion house, just launched a new collection called, “#JustSayMoschiNO Capsule Collection SS17”. The new line showcases pills, prescription bottles, and prescription labels on clothing, purses, umbrellas, and even cell phone cases. Addiction recovery advocates are angry, and there’s a good reason why.

Related: Kitson Designer Brian Lichtenberg Prescription Drug Shirts

Moschino Prescription Drug Line

It appears that the #JustSayMochiNO hashtag plays off of Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign; a part of the “War On Drugs” which launched in 1971 under President Nixon. (Spoiler alert! The War On Drugs failed.) With millions of individuals currently suffering from the opioid drug epidemic, many advocates for addiction recovery are speaking out against designer Jeremy Scott, and all those who support him.

A Change.org petition started by drug counselor Randy Anderson from Minneapolis, MN, has been circulating and gaining support for a boycott of Moschino (#JustSayNoToMochino) as well as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. As a result of the petition and customer complaints, Nordstrom has announced they will pull the new offensive clothing line designed by Scott. Nordstrom stores are no longer named in the petition.

Why Is This Such A Big Deal?

In 2014, the CDC reported 47,055 accidental overdose deaths; 29,467 of those deaths were related to opioid drugs like pain killers and heroin. Drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of accidental deaths in America today. Since we are dealing with a very stigmatized and very real epidemic of the disease of addiction, companies that prey on vulnerable addicts or young adults who think drugs are cool, are causing more damage and are helping prevent our nation from taking this illness seriously. Would these designers and retailers get away with a new line mocking cancer or any other deadly disease? Not likely. So why is the fatal disease of addiction treated differently?

According to ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine), drug addiction and alcoholism is a progressive and deadly chronic brain disease, so “just say no” is not an option for those suffering from the disease. Treatment can and does work, so we need to spread that message rather than the message that prescription pill abuse is trendy and fashionable.

Drug addiction and alcoholism can be treated. If you or someone you love is struggling, please contact us today at 800-861-1768 to find out how you can stop and stay stopped.