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Whiteside B, Dunn M. Voices represented and voices silenced: Represented voices in the media coverage of the implementation of a supervised injecting facility. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 121:104213. [PMID: 37776603 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Victoria's first medically supervised injecting room (MSIR) has remained controversial despite mounting evidence in support of the facility. The opposition to a policy idea is subject to a myriad of factors including the media. Favouring the opinions of various actors, the media are a fundamental element of the narrative formation process. In this article, we examine the voices represented and voice silenced in print news media and the possible effects of such reporting. METHODS A quantitative content and qualitative thematic analysis of Victorian print media (n=645) focusing on the implementation and continued operation of North Richmond Community Health's medically supervised injecting room was conducted. RESULTS The representations of the MSIR were debated by three predominant actors - politicians, public, and residents. Politicians largely relied on the 'saving lives' rhetoric when supporting the facility. In addition, competing representations of 'public amenity' were presented by both advocates and proponents of the MSIR. We found the voices of people who inject drugs were inadequately represented within the data. Instead, overdose statistics were featured as were discursive descriptions of people who inject drugs such as 'addicts', 'junkies', and 'druggies'. CONCLUSION Despite people who inject drugs being the population the MSIR is designed to benefit, their experiences and voices were lacking, highlighting social power structures, denying the silenced power, and obstructing social change. Overdose rates were consistently presented as numbers, negating personal experiences and lacking meaningful debate. Further, negative discourse referring to people who inject drugs may have implications regarding internalised and externalised stigma and drug policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Whiteside
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia; Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia.
| | - Matthew Dunn
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia; Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia
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López-Ramírez E, Huber MJ, Matías-Pérez D, Santos-López G, García-Montalvo IA. Opioid harm reduction and stigma: proposed methods to improve the perception of people with addiction. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1197305. [PMID: 37636822 PMCID: PMC10447975 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1197305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Enrique López-Ramírez
- División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Mary J. Huber
- Clinical Rehabilitation Program, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, United States
| | - Diana Matías-Pérez
- División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Regional del Sureste, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Santos-López
- Departamento de Ingeniería en Desarrollo Comunitario, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Iván Antonio García-Montalvo
- División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Regional del Sureste, Oaxaca, Mexico
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Jay J, Chan A, Gayed G, Patterson J. Coverage of the opioid crisis in national network television news from 2000-2020: A content analysis. Subst Abuse 2022; 43:1322-1332. [PMID: 35896005 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2022.2074594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: News coverage has both negatively and positively influenced public awareness and perceptions surrounding the opioid crisis. This study aimed to describe and analyze national network television news framing of the scope and impact of the opioid crisis in the United States. Methods: We performed a retrospective content analysis on national network television evening news segments covering the opioid crisis from 1/2000 to 8/2020, which were obtained from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive. The database was queried for: opioid epidemic, oxycontin, heroin, fentanyl, and naloxone. Two independent reviewers quantitatively coded segment characteristics, including theme, geographic location, opioids mentioned, strategies for combatting the epidemic discussed, interviews conducted, and patient demographics. Changes in segment characteristics over time were analyzed using chi-square analyses and Fisher's exact tests. Results: News segments (N = 191) most commonly provided an overview of the epidemic (55.5%) and/or conveyed personal stories (40.3%). Prescription opioids (59.7%) and heroin (62.8%) were more often referenced than fentanyl (17.8%); the focus on heroin peaked in 2011-2015 (84.8%), while references to fentanyl significantly increased over time (p = 0.021). The most frequently interviewed people included patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) (47.1%), healthcare providers (36.7%), family members/friends (31.9%), and law enforcement (30.9%). Most of the featured patients with OUD were male (63.0%), white (88.4%), and young (< 40 years) adults (77.9%). Coverage of the crisis peaked in 2016. Conclusions: Evening news segments' emphasis on personal stories, while emotionally compelling, came at the cost of thematically-framed coverage that may improve public understanding of the complexities of the epidemic. The depiction of primarily white, young adult patients with OUD revealed a need for a greater emphasis in the news on underrepresented minorities and older adults, as these populations face additional stigma and disparities in OUD treatment initiation and retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Jay
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Amy Chan
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - George Gayed
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Julie Patterson
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
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Jozaghi E. The overdose epidemic: a study protocol to determine whether people who use drugs can influence or shape public opinion via mass media. HEALTH & JUSTICE 2022; 10:22. [PMID: 35870016 PMCID: PMC9307426 DOI: 10.1186/s40352-022-00189-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We are currently witnessing an ongoing drug overdose death epidemic in many nations linked to the distribution of illegally manufactured potent synthetic opioids. While many health policy makers and researchers have focused on the root causes and possible solutions to the current crisis, there has been little focus on the power of advocacy and community action by people who use drugs (PWUDs). Specifically, there has been no research on the role of PWUDs in engaging and influencing mass media opinion. METHODS By relying on one of the longest and largest peer-run drug user advocacy groups in the world, the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), newspaper articles, television reports, and magazines that VANDU or its members have been directly involved in will be identified via two data bases (the Canadian Newsstream & Google News). The news articles and videos related to the health of PWUDs and issues affecting PWUDs from 1997 to the end of 2020 will be analyzed qualitatively using Nvivo software. DISCUSSION As our communities are entering another phase of the drug overdose epidemic, acknowledging and partnering with PWUDs could play an integral part in advancing the goals of harm reduction, treatment, and human rights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Jozaghi
- UBC Faculty of Dentistry, Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre, 2151 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Thompson C, Clary C, Er V, Adams J, Boyland E, Burgoine T, Cornelsen L, de Vocht F, Egan M, Lake AA, Lock K, Mytton O, Petticrew M, White M, Yau A, Cummins S. Media representations of opposition to the 'junk food advertising ban' on the Transport for London (TfL) network: A thematic content analysis of UK news and trade press. SSM Popul Health 2021; 15:100828. [PMID: 34141852 PMCID: PMC8184652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advertising of less healthy foods and drinks is hypothesised to be associated with obesity in adults and children. In February 2019, Transport for London implemented restrictions on advertisements for foods and beverages high in fat, salt or sugar across its network as part of a city-wide strategy to tackle childhood obesity. The policy was extensively debated in the press. This paper identifies arguments for and against the restrictions. Focusing on arguments against the restrictions, it then goes on to deconstruct the discursive strategies underpinning them. METHODS A qualitative thematic content analysis of media coverage of the restrictions (the 'ban') in UK newspapers and trade press was followed by a document analysis of arguments against the ban. A search period of March 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 covered: (i) the launch of the public consultation on the ban in May 2018; (ii) the announcement of the ban in November 2018; and (iii) its implementation in February 2019. A systematic search of printed and online publications in English distributed in the UK or published on UK-specific websites identified 152 articles. RESULTS Arguments in favour of the ban focused on inequalities and childhood obesity. Arguments against the ban centred on two claims: that childhood obesity was not the 'right' priority; and that an advertising ban was not an effective way to address childhood obesity. These claims were justified via three discursive approaches: (i) claiming more 'important' priorities for action; (ii) disputing the science behind the ban; (iii) emphasising potential financial costs of the ban. CONCLUSION The discursive tactics used in media sources to argue against the ban draw on frames widely used by unhealthy commodities industries in response to structural public health interventions. Our analyses highlight the need for interventions to be framed in ways that can pre-emptively counter common criticisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Thompson
- Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Christelle Clary
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Er
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jean Adams
- Centre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Boyland
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Burgoine
- Centre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Cornelsen
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frank de Vocht
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Egan
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amelia A Lake
- Centre for Public Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.,Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Lock
- Department of Health Services Research & Policy, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Mytton
- Centre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Petticrew
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin White
- Centre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Yau
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Cummins
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Wild TC, Koziel J, Anderson-Baron J, Asbridge M, Belle-Isle L, Dell C, Elliott R, Hathaway A, MacPherson D, McBride K, Pauly B, Strike C, Galovan A, Hyshka E. Public support for harm reduction: A population survey of Canadian adults. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251860. [PMID: 34010338 PMCID: PMC8133460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We described public views toward harm reduction among Canadian adults and tested a social exposure model predicting support for these contentious services, drawing on theories in the morality policy, intergroup relations, addiction, and media communication literatures. A quota sample of 4645 adults (18+ years), randomly drawn from an online research panel and stratified to match age and sex distributions of adults within and across Canadian provinces, was recruited in June 2018. Participants completed survey items assessing support for harm reduction for people who use drugs (PWUD) and for seven harm reduction interventions. Additional items assessed exposure to media coverage on harm reduction, and scales assessing stigma toward PWUD (α = .72), personal familiarity with PWUD (α = .84), and disease model beliefs about addiction (α = .79). Most (64%) Canadians supported harm reduction (provincial estimates = 60% - 73%). Five of seven interventions received majority support, including: outreach (79%), naloxone (72%), drug checking (70%), needle distribution (60%) and supervised drug consumption (55%). Low-threshold opioid agonist treatment and safe inhalation interventions received less support (49% and 44%). Our social exposure model, adjusted for respondent sex, household income, political views, and education, exhibited good fit and accounted for 17% of variance in public support for harm reduction. Personal familiarity with PWUD and disease model beliefs about addiction were directly associated with support (βs = .07 and -0.10, respectively), and indirectly influenced public support via stigmatized attitudes toward PWUD (βs = 0.01 and -0.01, respectively). Strategies to increase support for harm reduction could problematize certain disease model beliefs (e.g., "There are only two possibilities for an alcoholic or drug addict-permanent abstinence or death") and creating opportunities to reduce social distance between PWUD, the public, and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Cameron Wild
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jakob Koziel
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Mark Asbridge
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Lynne Belle-Isle
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Colleen Dell
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Hathaway
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Bernie Pauly
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carol Strike
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam Galovan
- Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elaine Hyshka
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Quan AML, Wilson LA, Mithani SS, Zhu DT, Bota AB, Wilson K. Reporting on the opioid crisis (2000-2018): role of The Globe and Mail, a Canadian English-language newspaper in influencing public opinion. Harm Reduct J 2020; 17:93. [PMID: 33256766 PMCID: PMC7708153 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aim to describe the general characteristics of how the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reports on opioid-related news, the opioid crisis and its victims, and explore how Canadians' perceptions of the opioid crisis could have developed over time from this reporting. The Globe and Mail has the highest circulation among Canadian newspapers and is Canada's newspaper of record. METHODS Reviewers performed independent, blinded bibliometric searches of all The Globe and Mail articles archived in the Canadian Periodicals Index Quarterly spanning an 18-year period (1 January 2000-1 June 2018) related to the keywords "opioids" or "drugs and opioids" and "opiates". Independently and in duplicate, reviewers manually extracted qualitative data from articles and identified emergent themes. Articles were screened independently by both reviewers based on the inclusion criteria. Conflicts were resolved by discussion and consensus. Social representation theory was used as a framework for describing how the opioid crisis is portrayed in Canada. RESULTS Our search yielded 650 relevant opioid articles. The number of articles peaked in 2009, 2012, and in 2016, coinciding with major developments in the epidemic. The language used in this discourse has evolved over the years and has slowly shifted towards less stigmatizing language. Content analysis of the articles revealed common social representations attributing responsibility to pharmaceutical companies, physicians, and foreign countries. CONCLUSIONS The Globe and Mail's coverage of the opioid crisis is focused on basic social representations and attributed responsibility for the crisis to a few collectives. A shift toward coverage of the root causes of the opioid epidemic could positively influence the general public's perception of the opioid crisis and promote deeper understanding of the issue. Journalists face several obstacles to achieve greater focus and framing of the opioid crisis; a closer working relationship between the media and the research community is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda My Linh Quan
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - Lindsay A Wilson
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - Salima S Mithani
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - David T Zhu
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - A Brianne Bota
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada
| | - Kumanan Wilson
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 684, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
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Jones J. What Do We Mean When We Call Someone a Drug Addict? HEALTH CARE ANALYSIS 2020; 28:391-403. [PMID: 33104912 DOI: 10.1007/s10728-020-00410-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
When thinking about the harms of drug addiction, there is a tendency to focus on the harms of drug consumption. But not all harms associated with drug addiction are caused by drug consumption. There is at least another dimension of harm worth considering: what I call the linguistic harm of drug addiction. Starting with an analysis of 'drug addict' as it appears in the media, I argue that 'drug addict' is inconsistently applied to people with drug addiction and that this inconsistency reveals two important features of the term. First, being called a 'drug addict' is worse than being described as 'having a drug problem'. Second, being called a drug addict exacerbates the challenges experienced by people with drug addiction. Referencing the 'addict' narrative, I detail how calling someone a drug addict can add to the marginalization of people with drug addiction and argue that to eliminate the linguistic harm of drug addiction, we ought to reduce it first. Using the analysis of 'drug addict' from the first half of the paper, I propose a novel harm reduction strategy that benefits people with drug addiction but calls on people who do not use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Jones
- University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave., W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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