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Addiction Representation in the Media

Media Literacy Presentation

Breanna Hoppes

How Often Do We See It?

How Often Do We See It?

Is it ever in a positive light?

Thirteen Reasons Why

Justin Foley, one of the main characters, battles addiction. Despite getting help from his friend, Clay Jensen, he loses his battle.

Outer Banks

TV Shows & Movies

Addiction Shown in TV & Movies

Four Good Days

In Outer Banks, one of the main characters, Rafe Cameron, is addicted to cocaine and is shown in a negative, lost cause light.

In Four Good Days, actress Mila Kunis is an addict who has the typical defeated, visible battle of addiction stereotype.

Stereotypes of Addicts

The Stereotypes of Addicts

How are addicts often perceived by the public? Does the media play a role in this depiction?

How do TV shows depict addicts?

In most cases, addicts are shown as individuals who are unsuccessful, not well put together and also have a distinct, messy appearance.

Addict Stereotypes

How are addicts often thought of and or portrayed in the media?

Homeless Stereotype

Are there better stereotypes that could be used for addicts?

Yes, there are. Being an addict does not make you poor and being poor does not make you an addict, contrary to the way addicts are depicted in the media as low life individuals.

Does Just A Bad Past Cause Addiction?

According to https://www.fortbehavioral.com/addiction-recovery-blog/stereotypes-of-addiction/, "Another common misconception is that addicts are broken somehow. While many of us have experienced trauma either prior to our addiction or because of it, the truth is, while trauma does increase the risk of addiction, most people who experience it do not become addicted. As for those who are addicted, many come from typical families. Addiction is a disease of the brain, not necessarily a reaction to bad experiences.

The Idea of

Trauma Being the

Root of Addiction

What Fuels Addiction?

Although some individuals may blame trauma for the reason behind addiction, while in some cases this may be true, most times it has to do with an imbalance in the brain. When one passes away due to addiction, those left behind begin to question at what point in time did they mess up.. in most cases, it is not a trauma response, rather than an unfortunate condition in the brain. Although street drugs are an immense issue in our country, prescription drugs are also an issue for many addicts.

What Influences Addiction?

According to www. seabrook.org, "Addiction is often depicted on television in either a watered down or exaggerated manner. Directors arrange scenes suited for families to enjoy together through lighthearted sitcoms depicting 30-minute fixes, or an outrageous fabrication of someone with no redeeming qualities suffering at rock bottom. In reality, those with addiction experience a much different demon than the one characterized through the media. Viewers are often captivated by an actor’s bombastic display of drunken emotion. In reality, those outbursts are often embarrassing or distressing. Watchers tune in for entertainment, not education or accuracy."

Current Depiction of Addicts in the Media

Why is Better Representation Needed?

Could Lives Be Saved With Better Representation?

Each day adults also lose children to addiction as well. According www.vertavahealth.com, "144 people die each day from an overdose. These numbers are more than stats or headlines on the evening news. These numbers represent loss and devastation. These numbers are someone’s precious child." Addiction is a serious matter in need of better representation in the media. Better representation of addiction in the media could greatly lower overdose rates. Instead of glamourizing addiction in shows or movies, the media should focus on representing it in a way in which it instills fear, as a way to educate people on the horrifying effects of addiction.

Why Is This Important?

The Importance of Discussing This

In May of 2020, my Nana, pictured on the left, suddenly passed away. For years, my grandmother struggled with a painkiller addiction. My Nana was beautiful, resilient, well put together, and financially well.. everything the media never shows about an addict. Despite her addiction, she was a human who was beyond loved, yet she had a battle. Addicts are human as well...

How Did My Nana's Struggle Effect Her Everyday Life?

Due to addiction, years of my nana's life had been wasted. Despite giving her family, especially her grandkids, everything she had to offer, she missed out on important milestones in our lives. Addiction caused frequent sickness, irritation and complications for my Nana. Over the years, she grew more irritable and was often aching. Towards the end of her life, she grew a hatred for life, as she was always in pain. My Nana was not always this way, after a back injury when I was young, she was prescribed painkillers, which lead to this addiction. My Nana was incredible, resilient, and beautiful despite her struggles. She is the reason I will always empathize with those struggling with addiction.

My Nana's Struggle

Left Behind Loved Ones

How Did My Nana's Struggle Effect Those Left Behind?

This is my family. This photo was taken in St. John just two days after my Nana's one year death anniversary, where we remembered her life while we were in paradise. All of us have been deeply effected by the loss. With proper education on addiction in the media, lives could be saved each day. If my Nana never became a victim of addiction, there is not a doubt in my mind she would be in the photo as well, smiling big next to my grandfather in the middle of the photo.

My Resources

Resources

  • Stereotypes of Addiction. Retrieved October 10, 2021. https://www.fortbehavioral.com/addiction-recovery-blog/stereotypes-of-addiction/

  • How Addiction is Portrayed in the Media. (2018, May 4) Retrieved October 10, 2021 https://www.seabrook.org/blog/addiction-portrayed-media/

  • Lorelie Rozzano These Parents Lost Their Child To Overdose. They Want You To Know This… Retrieved October 10, 2021 https://vertavahealth.com/blog/these-parents-lost-their-child-to-overdose-they-want-you-to-know-this/
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