There is no scarcity of drugs being on the media, but there is some question as to whether the role it plays increases, decreases, or has no effect on actual drug use. Crime shows are consistently showing tragedies involving drug addicts, but does the public really put together that it really happens like that? After all, it’s on television so it may mimic real life, but it’s not real life. But it is real life. The news reports stories of drug addictions and the deaths and murders that occur as a result, but when is the last time you saw a news story reporting the actual rise or decline in drug use? Media has a responsibility that they sometimes are not held accountable for. Drug use and drug abuse are real in every town and every city and in every country. People need to be aware of the statistics not only in their area, but the world.
As far as the media is concerned, drugs are entertainment or interesting short news stories. They neglect to drive home the fact that these tragedies are happening all over the world. They are affecting real people and real families. They are affecting our friends, our neighbors, even our own families. Despite what they say, the media does have an agenda and apparently, right now, that agenda does not include offering real help for drug addiction. From time to time there are sensational headlines that involve drug addiction. When and if those happen, they do seem to cause a stir. People become interested and intrigued. There are enough stories right now for a thousand headlines concerning children and families. If that is what is needed to get people involved then it should be done.
The media needs to bring to light the number of little children already hooked on drugs and the amount of women who are routinely raped and/or prostituted because of drugs. They used to be the odd story but now they tragically are an every day reality. That needs to be brought out through the media. The media and drugs should have a much bigger connection. If newspaper headlines have such an effect, think of how people would react to documentaries of drug addiction. The media needs to step up and let the truth be known about the drug problem so that the point is really understood by the general public.
Nick Hayes is a graduate of the Narconon drug rehab program in 2005. Nick takes much enjoyment in writing, and feels there needs to be more information about drugs and alcohol provided to the people of the world. He believes nobody should have to go through an addiction.