Youths Abusing Drugs : Is Media to Blame?
- audiwei123
- Jul 31, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 15, 2021
The rise of popular media has opened a realm of unregulated content, allowing youths to consume drug-related content without supervision. This increase of unrestricted content might influence youths, who are still searching for their identity.
BY
MUHAMAD DANIAL B ROSLAN,
TAN JU WEI AUDRIE,
TEO LIQI GWENNETH,
PERLIN ONG PUAY LYNN
Published on : 21 AUG 2020
With the proliferation of drug-related content on popular media, more youths are abusing drugs despite Singapore’s notoriously strict drug laws.
Popular media, including social, foreign media and streaming platforms, portray drugs as cool, fun and lucrative, arousing youths’ curiosity towards drugs like methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin.
“When we watch movies we only watch them being high, so the real consequences, the pain, we don’t get to see it.” says Mr Daniel Chee Jan Keong, 51, Assistant Senior Counsellor of Ang Mo Kio Family Centre. Mr Chee explained that popular media tends to sensationalise drugs and downplay withdrawal symptoms, inaccurately representing the consequences of drugs.
When we watch movies we only watch them being high, so the real consequences, the pain, we don't get to see it.
Daniel Chee Jan Keong, 51
Assistant Senior Counsellor at Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre
Shows like Netflix’s “How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)” portray drugs as an easy way to make money. Music with drug glorifications like “Stay High” by Tove Lo, available on various music streaming platforms, depict drugs as a way to escape reality and alleviate pain.
According to the National Council Against Drug Abuse, in 2018, 66 percent of new drug abusers arrested were under 30. In 2017, 16 percent of youths aged 13-21 expressed more liberal attitudes towards drugs, a five percent increase from 2013.
This figure is expected to climb as more youths are exposed to unrestricted online contents.
A research conducted by a group of Mass Communication students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic found that 63.1 percent of 103 respondents aged 18 to 24 agreed that youths are more inclined to drug usage in the digital age.
Nearly 51 percent of respondents believed that social media has the greatest influence on youths’ perception of drugs among other popular media, with Instagram, Whatsapp and Youtube being their most commonly used platforms.
Apart from social media, movies, songs, and dramas are media that youths believe would affect their perception of drugs.
Similar to social media, foreign media have little censorship of drug-related content. When celebrities that youths idolize, appear on such platforms abusing drugs, youths might be inclined to mimic their actions.
Local media's depiction of drugs
Unlike popular media, local media depicts drugs negatively in the hopes of quashing youths’ curiosity about them.
Unfortunately, the contrast in availability of drug-related content in popular and local media might further arouse youths’ interest in the censored content and encourage them to do further research online.
Furthermore, based on the same research, 88 percent of respondents spend more than 4 hours everyday on social media. This further increases the chances of them stumbling across drug-related content, normalising drug usage.
Youths, in search of their identity, are easily influenced by the content they consume.
“To them, they(think that they) still have time to serve their sentence because they’re still young... That’s why it’s okay for me to get caught, it’s okay. But they don’t know the thing(drugs) is killing them slowly, little by little.” Mr Ramli Bin Abdullah, 46, Founder of Reforming SG Limited (RSG), said.
The glorification of drugs on popular media, coupled with the curiosity and impulsiveness of youths, can lead to them abusing drugs albeit knowing the consequences.
Peer pressure and stress plays a part
Apart from the media, peer pressure has also resulted in the rise in drug abuse among youths. Mr Chee explained that when youths mix around with drug abusers, there is a high risk that they will be pressured into drug abuse due to the urge to fit in.
Youths’ inability to deal with negative emotions and stress, may result in them seeking relaxation through substance abuse.
Consequences and ways to help youths
According to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), drug consumption among youths affects brain development, which can lead to future health, psychological, social and relationship issues.
To ensure that this drug abuse problem does not spiral further, Mr Abdullah mentioned that campaigns and talks in school are necessary to educate youths about the consequences of drug abuse. However, Mr Chee explained that preventive programmes might not actually work.
‘‘Just because they have all this information, it does not mean that they will end up making the right decision” he said.
Just because they have all this information, it does not mean that they will end up making the right decision
Daniel Chee Jan Keong, 51
Assistant Senior Counsellor at Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre
The complete censorship of drugs might also be a way to reduce the number of drug abuse among Singaporean youths, since theoretically, if youths are unaware of drugs, they will not take it.
However, on the contrary, many youths do not support the complete censorship of drugs as they believe that it will only fuel their curiosity and temptations to try them.
It is also impossible to completely censor all drug-related content, as pirated sites are always available to fulfil youths’ desires.
Mr Chee mentioned that developing life skills like managing emotions and setting goals are better methods to help youths with their growing pains. Ultimately, this might be the best way to tramp down the rising number of drug abuse cases among teens.
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