Drug Abuse

Study the quote below. Find examples from your own media use to discuss how drug use is portrayed.

"Throughout my teenage years, I never once saw the glorification of alcohol or drug use in any film, TV show, music video, advertisements, or social media post." said no 21st-century teen ever Drug Abuse in the UK Research and find out what happened to Amy Whinehouse Substance abuse is listed as the fifth top challenge for young (above) and Peaches Geldof? people in the UK. Recent EU studies confirm this by painting a disturbing picture of drug abuse in the UK. Surveys show that Britain’s teenagers are amongst the heaviest drug users in Europe. Often, drug addiction is depicted in the media in either a watered-down “no big deal” format or an exaggerated manner. Young people receive mixed messages about substance use, and the media contribute significantly to the risk that young people will try illegal drugs. SOURCES Central YMCA. 2016. A World of Good: The Challenge of Being Young in Modern Britain. YMCA.co.uk European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. 2009. Drug Use: An Overview of General Population Surveys in Europe. EMCDDA.europa.eu

ACTION 25 Discuss in groups: a Why do you think media show so much drug use? How can this affect the people watching it? b Did you know that some schools in the UK have random drug testing of their students? What would you say if you were taken out for a drug test at school in Norway? Vurderingseksemplar c How can schools work to prevent student drug abuse? Agree on three suggestions.

glorification glorifisering surveys undersøkelser/undersøkingar addiction avhengighet/avhengnad depicted fremstilt/framstilt watered-down her: enkelt, neddysset / her: enkelt, dyssa ned exaggerated overdrevet/overdriven random tilfeldig 26 Research drug abuse among young adults in Norway compared to the UK. Make a brief anti-drug use leaflet for Norwegian and British students based on facts, statistics and suggestions for prevention.

Remember to cite your sources.