Celebrities: influencing more than vitamins?
Dune Lorenz
Issue date: 3/22/10 Section: Entertainment
An issue brought up by some students is not when a drug gets attention, but that entertainment in general is always centered around it. This is much like trans-media storytelling, when advertisements for franchises reach out to all aspects of entertainment, be it Twitter or comic books.
The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention argues a similar point saying, "Whilst the celebrity has come to occupy a key role in the lives of many young people, its influence must not be overstated. Young people do not form their opinions on drugs and drug use solely from media personalities. Young people are informed about drugs and drug use through a wide variety of sources such as music, drug education in schools, local and national drug prevention campaigns, peer interaction and their own personal experiences, much of which is both conflicting and confusing."
Rogelio Rodriguez, a freshman majoring in business management and entrepreneurship said, "Celebrities lives are more "put out there." They are more exposable than we are. Celebrities are objects to the media. It does not influence much opinion. When celebrities get caught, they get a light offense or get off free, while teenagers get a harder sentence. They know the danger, so there is no point."
One of the issues brought up in the United Nations Narcotics Control Board's 2008 report expressed concern for just that: celebrities are dealt with leniency too often. The UNNCB goes to the length of mentioning in their report that "internet chatter" often reflects that celebrities are dealt with leniently and generate perceptions of this.
A quick trip to Google shows reason for the UNNCB's concern. Searching "celebrity jail time" brings up a blog entitled, "Celebrities Don't Do Jail" on the first page. Even CNN reported on the U.N. "blasting celebrity drug abuse" with their article filled with examples of various celebrities avoiding major punishment.
Arrest reports from the FBI show relatively low juvenile drug abuse arrests in 2008. Out of a total of 14.2 million arrests in the United States that year, only 1.4 percent of those arrests were juvenile drug abuse arrests, while 11.6 percent were adults.
According to MonitoringtheFuture.org, a 2009 report of student drug use shows 19.9 percent of eighth graders, 36 percent of tenth graders and 46.7 percent of twelfth graders reported using any illicit drugs within their lifetimes.
However, these reports do not state whether movies, TV shows or celebrities in general influence these age groups' drug intake.
If you or someone you know has an issue with drug addiction, please contact the PUC Counceling Center at 219-989-2366 to speak with someone concering the issue; or visit the office, located in room 005 of the Gyte Building.
The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention argues a similar point saying, "Whilst the celebrity has come to occupy a key role in the lives of many young people, its influence must not be overstated. Young people do not form their opinions on drugs and drug use solely from media personalities. Young people are informed about drugs and drug use through a wide variety of sources such as music, drug education in schools, local and national drug prevention campaigns, peer interaction and their own personal experiences, much of which is both conflicting and confusing."
Rogelio Rodriguez, a freshman majoring in business management and entrepreneurship said, "Celebrities lives are more "put out there." They are more exposable than we are. Celebrities are objects to the media. It does not influence much opinion. When celebrities get caught, they get a light offense or get off free, while teenagers get a harder sentence. They know the danger, so there is no point."
One of the issues brought up in the United Nations Narcotics Control Board's 2008 report expressed concern for just that: celebrities are dealt with leniency too often. The UNNCB goes to the length of mentioning in their report that "internet chatter" often reflects that celebrities are dealt with leniently and generate perceptions of this.
A quick trip to Google shows reason for the UNNCB's concern. Searching "celebrity jail time" brings up a blog entitled, "Celebrities Don't Do Jail" on the first page. Even CNN reported on the U.N. "blasting celebrity drug abuse" with their article filled with examples of various celebrities avoiding major punishment.
Arrest reports from the FBI show relatively low juvenile drug abuse arrests in 2008. Out of a total of 14.2 million arrests in the United States that year, only 1.4 percent of those arrests were juvenile drug abuse arrests, while 11.6 percent were adults.
According to MonitoringtheFuture.org, a 2009 report of student drug use shows 19.9 percent of eighth graders, 36 percent of tenth graders and 46.7 percent of twelfth graders reported using any illicit drugs within their lifetimes.
However, these reports do not state whether movies, TV shows or celebrities in general influence these age groups' drug intake.
If you or someone you know has an issue with drug addiction, please contact the PUC Counceling Center at 219-989-2366 to speak with someone concering the issue; or visit the office, located in room 005 of the Gyte Building.
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