Drugs in Media

                Drugs are everywhere. It is normal for a person to have some sort of encounter with drugs in their lifetime, especially in high school or college.  When someone is seen around drugs, a certain judgment is passed about them, and they are sending a message.   Even if someone is not actually doing the drugs, simply surrounding yourself with them speaks about your character.   Our culture has grown with drugs especially through music.   Listening to music that sings about drugs also sends a message out about yourself.   My dad listens to a lot of music that expresses words about drugs and this made me ask him if he has ever done any drugs.   He, who is a man of his word, told me he has never done any drug or even smoked anything, such as a cigarette or cigar.   Because of the verbal drug paraphernalia used in the songs he listens to, I passed judgment about my dad and assumed that he has been exposed to some kind of drug before. There are hidden meanings in drugs and involving one’s self in that sort of situation sends a message to your peers.  

                In Europe, a much calmer and more laid back culture, drugs are used casually.  They do not inflict the same judgments from society, but they do receive media messages.   In their book, Media Society, Croteau and Hoynes write that “the flow of media products, the argument continues, results in the erosion of local cultures and values” (355 Croteau and Hoynes).   Drugs, as a media product, is traded, sold, and bought throughout different states and even countries.   Drugs being shipped from America to Europe would impose a rushed and somewhat addictive media message on the Europeans.   Drugs shipped from Europe would ensure a relaxed and casual environment based off of the media message that is sent with the drug from overseas.