Media's Impact on Drug Abuse - Some Interesting Facts You.
The connection between social media and teen drug use is one that can influence your adolescent’s interest in using tobacco or drugs and drinking alcohol. While social media is not directly responsible for people becoming addicted to a given substance or behavior, certain images and messages posted on social networking sites affect how children perceive potentially addictive behaviors.
Alices Adventures in Wonderland Paper In Victorian England the drug Opium was commonly used. This drug did not have the connotation that drugs have today; studies show that five out of every six families used Opium regularly (Connell). Lewis Carroll uses actions of characters and situations.
Of the top 1000 popular songs they studied, 18% referenced illicit drugs and 17% referenced alcohol. 23 Another report 24 found that, of 258 popular music videos, 20% verbally referenced illicit drugs and 37% displayed alcohol. In every case, marijuana was the illicit drug most commonly represented. 23, 24.
The media has also indirectly supported drug abuse by playing music or showing movies that glorify drug use. Once teens follow the lives of their role models as portrayed in the media, they find themselves in a trap which they are unable to come from.
Gangs are portrayed on TV and in the movies as if they are totally evil, but in reality there are more positive aspects that are not shown. The media only shows gangs involved with drugs and the violence, and as a result the media has scared many people into believing that gangs will take over our cities if we do not stop them.
Since studies demonstrate that many individuals start using drugs and alcohol at a very young age, the media can often shape ones perception and value system concerning substances. We have also witnessed the tragedies of people in the public eye with substance abuse issues, such as Robert Downey Jr., Drew Barrymore, Heath Ledger, Todd Bridges, Chris Farley, and Lindsey Lohan (to name a few).
Design a class mural showing how drugs are portrayed in society. Encourage the students to include as many different examples of drug use as they can. Have each student write a summary of what they have learned about how drugs are portrayed in society. Ask for volunteers to read their essays to the class, and ask the students to note on what.