The Evolution of Substance Use Coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer
Layla Bouzoubaa Ramtin Ehsani Preetha Chatterjee Rezvaneh Rezapour
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.