User:Adji M 13/Portrayal of mental illness in popular culture

"Drugs" by dkalo

Overdosing on drugs is a prominent social issue, especially in North America. According to Thomas A. Mclellan public perception of this illness has significantly influenced how many people will talk about it and most people treat addiction as a social problem to be corrected with the judicial system instead of an illness that requires medical intervention[1].


Popular culture products have the ability to shape the way we perceive a social issue, but it isn’t always a positive change.

  1. ^ Mclellan, A. Thomas. “Is Addiction an Illness-Can It Be Treated?” Substance Abuse, vol. 23, no. sup1, 2002, pp. 67–94.