Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

Drug Usage in American Television

Carly McCool
University of Texas at El Paso

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

Abstract
In recent years the portrayal of drug use in the media has become more and more
prevalent with shows such as Breaking Bad, Weeds, and Nurse Jackie gaining popularity and
acclaim. In turn, viewers, especially those in younger age categories, have more exposure to the
sensitive themes of drug abuse and addiction. While this exposure may cause alarm for those
who question the necessity and appropriateness of such themes, these portrayals of drug use also
open up a platform for awareness and discussion of these issues as they pertain to our society
today. An examination of how viewers respond to themes of drug use in television can create a
better idea of what kind of responsibilities content creators must have with regard to their
influence on viewers. In addition, this examination may also bring viewers an awareness of how
to interact with these themes in popular media and use them as a frame of reference from which
they can draw when interacting in situations involving drug use and addiction.

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

Your Topic Title: A Review of Literature

Television has long been a major form of entertainment, which allows viewers to
consume a variety of shows and movies offered to them by many different channels. Being such
a prevalent form of media, television programming reaches a large population, with much of that
population being made up of highly impressionable youth. For this reason, portrayal of drug use
on television has become controversial. More and more television shows have been exploring the
taboo subject to both positive and negative effect. With todays youth being so engrossed in
popular culture, it is not easy to stray from mass media containing this subject matter. Shows
such as Breaking Bad, Weeds, and Nurse Jackie provide content that deals heavily with
substance abuse and other aspects of drug culture, and all of these shows are available on Netflix,
one of the most popular streaming applications available today.
This literature will further examine the topic of drug use in television. Four questions will
expand on this topic: How has the portrayal of drugs in television affected American culture?,
What and who are being affected by drugs in television?, What types of shows are portraying
drug use and addiction?, and How can content creators portray drug use and addiction in way

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

that raises awareness? All of these questions will provide information that paints a bigger picture
of the relationship between the media and drugs.

How has the portrayal of drugs in television affected American culture?

The portrayal of drug use in television has become normalized and at times even
glamorized. Academics have gone so far as to even suggest that increased drug use among a
population may be directly linked to the popularity of such shows as Breaking Bad. Exposure to
themes of drug use, especially when associated with beloved characters may pique the interests
of viewers and even lead them to explore drug use themselves, suggests Professor Ellis
Cashmore of Staffordshire University. He goes on to explain that even showing the grotesque
side of addiction might not sway interests in drug use but instead contribute even more greatly to
audience curiosity. Therefore, it would be easy to assume that other television shows such as
Weeds and Nurse Jackie, which touch more lightly on issues of addiction (save some of the later
story arcs in Nurse Jackie which tackle rehabilitation from addiction directly) may be even more
influential toward viewers. According to a survey one hundred percent of the participants said
that television portrays drugs in a glamorized, light-hearted way (C. McCool, Personal survey:
Drug use in television).
Alternatively, topics of drug use and addiction may give viewers a frame of reference for
real life encounters with drug addiction. Representation in the media can bring understanding

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

and compassion for addicts whom a viewer may not have found as relatable were it not for their
exposure to characters with similar ailments. Benefits of cinema therapy may also apply to these
television shows. Proponents of cinema therapy suggest that viewing story arcs involving
overcoming challenges that are relevant to the patient/viewers personal experience may have
therapeutic effects and can even aid in recovery. In this case, viewers struggling with addiction
may find solace in plot lines such as those seen in Nurse Jackie, in which the title character
struggles with and overcomes a prescription pill addiction, even dealing with multiple relapses.

What and who are being affected by drugs in television?

Viewers from lower age ranges are much more impressionable in terms of their
relationship to popular media. The pop culture centered society of today makes it difficult for
adolescents to distance themselves from television and media consumption at the risk of losing
touch with their peers. In this way television becomes another form of peer pressure and popular
themes, such as drug use, gain more social significance. Teens and young adults who look up to
characters and their actors on television shows may feel more inclined to engage in the behavior
they see them performing on TV. A survey of subjects between the ages of eighteen and twenty
five shows that on average this demographic watches about three television shows that regularly
portray drug use, of that demographic ten percent say that they felt more inclined to use or sell
drugs after seeing it done on TV. (C. McCool, Personal survey: Drug use in television)
Other theories might assume that young individuals might be less likely to engage in drug
use after watching portrayals of drug use, especially those that depict the more gruesome

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

elements of addiction. These depictions may do more to dissuade adolescents from

experimenting with drugs, causing a scared straight outcome in which young adults might lose
any preexisting interest after seeing horror stories related to drug use played out on screen.
What types of shows are portraying drug use and addiction?
Drug use is a common theme throughout multiple genres of television, including comedy,
drama, and even reality television. The genre of the television show has a large influence on how
the drug use is portrayed. In comedies such as Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia drug use is
often used as a joke in which its effects are temporary and dont have any real, lasting
consequences. This portrayal can be problematic, especially if it is the primary way in which a
viewer is consuming media containing themes of drug use. These kinds of shows, when viewed
alone, may cause an audience to have a nonchalant attitude towards drug use and its possible
danger.
Dramatic television shows tend to deal more heavily and seriously with issues of drug
addiction with story arcs often reading as cautionary tales. Drug addicts in such shows do not
live glamorous lives but instead experience a darker, grittier side of drug use. In this genre
viewers are more likely to find empathy for addicts while gaining an understanding of the
severity of consequences that can result from drug use.
It is worth it to note the varying ways different genres of television shows portray drug
use is the type of drug use portrayed in these shows. Comedies are more likely to involve use of
more recreational, and less harmful drugs such as marijuana, whereas dramas often depict use of
heavier drugs such as heroin, meth, or prescription pills. In this light, a more relaxed attitude

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

with regard to less dangerous drugs may not be as irresponsible or dangerous as it may first
appear.
How can content creators portray drug use and addiction in a way that raises awareness?
Content creators have the opportunity to take responsibility for the way in which they
depict drug use. Viewers and critics express concerns about inaccuracies when it comes to drug
use because of the risk these portrayals may have when programs reach such large audiences.
One hundred percent of survey participants said that they felt television shows portraying drug
use were not informative with regard to the drug and addiction (C. McCool, Personal survey:
Drug use in television). By conducting thorough research during production of shows creators
have a better chance of creating a clearer picture of the realities of drug use that doesnt glorify
the issue. This type of portrayal would give creators the power to use their shows as a platform to
educate and raise awareness.
Taking on this kind of responsibility is noble, but it may also be seen as unnecessary.
Although it would be ideal to be able to have absolutely accurate portrayals of drug use in the
media, it is not necessarily the job of creators to educate viewers on such matters or even create
realistic media. Such expectations hinder expression and restrict the types of stories that may be
told. Uninformed viewers who are influenced by what they see in the media do not necessarily
have the right to blame their misfortunes entirely on what they saw on television.
Conclusion/Synthesis
There is no clear and precise connection between media portrayal of drug use and an
audiences relationship to drugs and addiction. Drug use is portrayed in many ways depending on

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

a shows genre and target audience. Whether or not these portrayals are harmful has to do with
many factors. More impressionable viewers may become curious about drugs due to the focus on
drug use being so prevalent in TV today. At the same time, this focus may act as a conversation
starter for discussions about addiction and the things that can be done to combat it. Ultimately,
discretion is up to the consumer of the media just as the content of television shows is up to the
creator.

References
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Christenson, P. G., Henrikson, L., & Roberts, D. (2000, January). Substance Use in Popular
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How Addicts Are Portrayed on TV | The Fix. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2016, from
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Mann, D. (n.d.). Movie Therapy: Using Movies for Mental Health. Retrieved March 04, 2016,
from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/movie-therapy-using-movies-formental-health
McCool, C., Personal survey: Drug use in television, March 2016
Mcewen, W. J., & Hanneman, G. J. (1974). The Depiction of Drug Use in Television
Programming. Journal of Drug Education, 4(3), 281-293.

Running head: Drug Usage in American Television

Villani, S. (2001). Impact of Media on Children and Adolescents: A 10-Year Review of the
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