Author: Justin Mckibben
The dangers and risks associated with illegal drugs and drug abuse are real, and those stories and facts should be shared as openly and honestly as possible. But how often is the masses force-fed false information about drugs and/or alcohol through the media? Is it really helping the cause to promote incorrect information to deter drug use?
While some of these shows use drugs and alcohol as comedic vehicles or dramatic decorations to create intense emotional scenes or make characters more relatable, sometimes the formula they use to show it is a little ridiculous. Here are just 5 ridiculous drug depictions on television.
- Psych Spiked with Salvia
On the comedy TV series Psych about a “psychic” who isn’t really psychic who helps cops bust criminals, there was an episode where the main characters had to figure out what event occurred during a blackout the night before after consuming drinks spiked with the synthetic drug salvia.
Salvias effects are said to last about 8-15 minutes, not over a whole night. Also, it is typically smoked not ingested as a food additive. In this form it would take massive amounts to cause any effect, not the sprinkled teaspoon shown on the episode.
- House Overpowers Vicodin
In an episode entitled “Under My Skin”, the clever and brilliant doctor House on the hit medical drama House is apparently such a medical genius that his body is a pure medicine machine, because the doctor quits abusing Vicodin cold turkey and only experiences any withdrawals for one single night.
In reality, it takes several weeks and sometimes months to achieve a certain degree of normality in the detox process from long-term Vicodin abuse.
- South Park Potty Humor
South Park is an animated series infamous for outrageous content and ridiculous controversial satire. In one episode, several characters inhale cat urine and experience intense hallucinations.
While huffing is a dangerous method sometimes used by drug users, this was a bit of a stretch, as none of the chemicals in cat urine produce hallucinations.
- Andy Griffith, Alcoholic
The Andy Griffith Show is just one example of this very common misconception that we tend to see a lot throughout the media when it comes to alcohol consumption and how someone can sober up.
On this old black-and-white TV show characters would have slurred speech and be falling down drunk, far from passing a field sobriety test. But if someone gave them coffee, they would INSTANTLY sober up. Coffee- the miracle cure!
This is a dangerous rumor, as too many people think there are short-cuts to sobering up once someone is intoxicated.
- The Madness of Marijuana
There are several instances throughout the media in various forms that depict the use of marijuana as a disastrous and delusional experience accompanied with fits of rage, violence, hallucinations and even dementia-like symptoms.
Characters dance around, attack strangers, abuse women and even neglect their children to the point they die of tragic circumstances… at least on TV they do. Need examples? How about:
- Reefer Madness
- Revenge of the Nerds
- The Breakfast Club
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
- Dragnet (Episode- “The Big High”)
Those are just a handful of examples of depictions of drugs in the media that have made them out to be something they are not. While it is fair to warn people about the dangers of drugs and important to educate them on the risks of addiction and abuse, fear mongering and misleading the general public is a bit off base for the goal you want to achieve. Instead of raising awareness and promoting effective solutions, this kind of exaggerated and/or inaccurate portrayal of drugs on television and in films only promotes stigma and confuses the public.
If you are someone struggling with substance abuse or addiction, maybe television and the media isn’t always the most reliable source of information on what to expect and how to get help. Remember that these portrayals are made for entertainment purposes, and often are not realistic, because the truth can be a lot less glamourous. But real help is out there.
[cta]
The post 5 Ridiculous Drug Depictions on Television appeared first on Holistic Drug Rehab Blog.