Breaking the Stigma: How the Media Misrepresents Addiction

By Luke Sindyla

9/1/25

As a culture, we take most of our information from the media. It is all around us: our phones, computers, the news, the music we listen to, and even games containing advertisements. When we consume media, our perception of such information is altered, even if we are not aware of it.

A topic strongly misdisplayed in the media is that of drug use. Although portrayed as confident, fun, and carefree, addiction is commonly seen through a misinformed lens. Addicts are often depicted as careless, criminals, and people who are deserving of their punishment. An example of this depiction is the reference to addicts by the term “junky”. Such depictions can be seen in movies and on social media.

When you hear someone called a “junky”, what thoughts come to your mind? 

To me, the word “junky” rings a negative connotation. The idea of a “junky” originated from common media, demonstrating the influence of media on our perception of addiction. 

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Research by the United Kingdom Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) indicates that the media condemns drug use significantly more than it empathises. This staggering difference, one of nearly 11%, displays how strongly the media works to demonize it. 

Speaking from personal experience, not all addicts are bad people. They don’t deserve the image forced upon them. Most people who struggle with addiction are good people who simply struggle with a more complex life. However, they are people, just like the rest of us. The bigger issue is that many people today fail to realize that such depictions of addiction and the narrative that the media has created can negatively impact addicts’ road to recovery. This stigma can break bridge

s between the addict and their relationship with others around them. Referring to addicts as “junkies” may increase stigma within relationships between addicts and their friends, families, and others around them, which is the opposite of what they may need to rehabilitate themselves.

Ultimately, the way the media portrays addiction is far from reality. Not only do people consume misinformation, but it also harms recovering addicts. Addiction IS a disease, and like any disease, it CAN be treated. Through rehabilitation and communities like Alcoholics Anonymous, addicts can recover and lead healthy lives. However, if negative perceptions of addiction continue to spread, addicts’ roads to recovery may become tougher, and the percentage of recovering addicts will decline. By spreading awareness about addiction and the people it impacts, we can help those in the recovery process overcome their struggles and break the stigma surrounding addiction, a battle many people hide behind today.