The Evolution of Substance Use Coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer
It addresses the problem of harmful stereotypes and stigmatization in media portrayals of substance use for individuals with addiction, which can influence public perception and policy, but is incremental as it focuses on a specific dataset without novel methodological breakthroughs.
This study analyzed 157,476 articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer over a decade to examine changes in media coverage of illicit substance use, finding that cannabis and narcotics were most frequently discussed, with hallucinogens portrayed more positively and narcotics more negatively.
The media's representation of illicit substance use can lead to harmful stereotypes and stigmatization for individuals struggling with addiction, ultimately influencing public perception, policy, and public health outcomes. To explore how the discourse and coverage of illicit drug use changed over time, this study analyzes 157,476 articles published in the Philadelphia Inquirer over a decade. Specifically, the study focuses on articles that mentioned at least one commonly abused substance, resulting in a sample of 3,903 articles. Our analysis shows that cannabis and narcotics are the most frequently discussed classes of drugs. Hallucinogenic drugs are portrayed more positively than other categories, whereas narcotics are portrayed the most negatively. Our research aims to highlight the need for accurate and inclusive portrayals of substance use and addiction in the media.