Substance Use in Popular Music Videos

Examines the frequency & nature of portrayals of illicit drugs, alcohol, & tobacco in music videos -- a medium that appeals primarily to teenagers & young adults. Using a sample of 300 videos, the study examined what substances, if any, were visually depicted &/or verbally referred to; whether substance use was explicitly portrayed; & if so, who used, how often, & under what circumstances. It also asked whether substance use of any kind was a dominant theme of each video. When compared to the 98% of movies or 77% of TV shows in earlier studies, music videos seem low in substance portrayals of any kind. But when substances are depicted visually, they are likely to be consumed & portrayed as pleasant & rewarding. Charts & tables.Roberts, Donald F. is the author of 'Substance Use in Popular Music Videos' with ISBN 9780756733865 and ISBN 0756733863.