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This project examines what the media has to say about drugs. As well as illegal drugs don't forget to include tea and coffee, alcohol, tobacco and medicines. The media includes newspapers, magazines, television, films, videos and DVDs.

First decide which media you are going to focus on. You could choose:

• Newspapers and magazines - collect local and national newspapers, Sunday colour magazines and young people's magazines and cut out all the stories and adverts which are about drugs.
  
  
• Television - watch (and possibly video) news programmes, documentaries, adverts and soaps that mention or show drugs.
  
  
• Film/video/DVD - choose a few films which focus on drugs or show people using drugs.

Then analyse what is being said about drugs. For example:

• Which drugs are mentioned? Who is shown as using the drugs and how are they portrayed? Is it young people, 'down-and-outs', people seen as bad, mad or sad, people enjoying themselves, people who are ill, etc?
  
  
• What is said about young people, men, women, older people and other groups?
  
  
• What is said about the reasons why people use drugs?
  
  
• What is said about the effects and risks of using drugs? Are the drugs seen in a good or bad way?
  
  
• What similarities and differences are there about the way different drugs are shown?
  
  
• How accurate is the reporting about drugs?

If you are working on newspapers and magazines you could include stories and adverts in your project report to illustrate the way drugs are seen. Also write about what effect you believe the media has on people's knowledge and views about drugs.

Resources

Here are a selection of websites that may help with your project. Please remember that DrugScope/D-World cannot be held responsible for the content of other sites.

The Portrayal of Alcohol and Alcohol Consumption in Television News and Drama Programmes (PDF) A report by the UK organisation, Alcohol Concern

Tobacco Ad Gallery - This site provides a searchable gallery of cigarette advertisements that have appeared in magazines.

The Impact of Smoking in the Movies (PDF) - This report from the American Organisation, The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids looks at the impact of smoking in the movies on youth smoking levels.

Media Messages Report (PDF) - DrugScope report assessing the messages young people receive from the media about drugs and alcohol.

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