In the midst of a debate over marijuana legalization in many states, we have an interesting paradox — some of the most dangerous drugs are perfectly legal.
The media tend to portray alcohol and tobacco as glamorous, using celebrities in alcohol ads to make partying seem cool. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of alcohol induced nights, but I find it contradictory that drugs causing no fatalities are illegal when the most dangerous drug is not only legal, but also easily accessible to 21-year-olds.
American culture glamorizes getting plastered yet vilifies smoking marijuana, when alcohol has far more detrimental effects to the body. Contemporary media glorifies Happy Hour and drinks after a long work day, with television shows like “How I Met Your Mother” and “Sex and the City” often using bars as the show’s setting.
“Project X” and “The Hangover” both endorse binge drinking and recreational drug use. Any time a celebrity gets caught under the influence, the media goes wild with celebrity mug shots blowing up our news feeds.
Drinking and smoking are seen as cool yet are the leading causes of liver failure and lung cancer, respectively.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco, alcohol and opioid-based prescription drugs are responsible for more direct deaths than any other drug, with tobacco causing about one of every five deaths in the U.S. each year.
Alcoholic liver disease causes 18,146 deaths per year, and alcohol-induced deaths total almost 30,000. Smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths annually, including deaths from secondhand smoke.
Let’s examine the role alcohol plays in our everyday lives. When invited to a dinner party, it would be rude to show up empty-handed, so guests typically bring a bottle of wine. We watch sporting events with pitchers of beer and have brunch on Sundays equipped with bloody marys and mimosas. Alcohol is ingrained in our culture, especially in Louisiana.
Drinking is a tradition viewed as socially acceptable in almost all situations, and Baton Rouge is even more engrossed in social drinking. LSU fans recently took to social media to publicize their fear that Syracuse will run out of alcohol during this weekend’s football game.
Lawmakers could do more to decrease deaths caused by the three most dangerous drugs rather than persecuting users of victimless drugs. However, it is highly unlikely given its effects on the economy and importance to American culture.
It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that these drugs are legal and readily accessible to easily swayed youths. Alcoholism is second nature in American culture, and it is doubtful the media will change its glorification of drunkenness and partying. A contradiction exists between the media’s portrayal of deadly drugs and law enforcement’s persecution of less harmful drugs.
We’re living in the digital age — a time where we are constantly flooded with images and messages designed to influence our behavior. We’ve all seen the happy men and women on the beach with their ice-cold beer. Advertisers not only want to sell us a product, they want to sell the lifestyle that comes with the purchase. They neglect to illustrate the debilitating consequences excessive alcohol use can have on the body.
Alcohol is a part of life, especially here in the South, and I, for one, am not ready to separate myself from it. It is only worth noting that if the media portrayed alcohol like they did other drugs, alcoholism would be seen as an epidemic.
Mariah Manuel is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Lake Charles, Louisiana. You can reach her on Twitter @mariah_manuel.