representation of drugs in films

Drug films tend to consist of either drug distribution or drug use, films range from ultra realistic to the utterly surreal, some films can be unabashedly pro or anti drug, while some others can be less judge mental. Drugs that tend to be shown in these type of films are usally higher class drugs such as

• crack cocaine
• lSD
• Heroin
• cannabis

There is convincing evidence that the media influences individuals behaviour, things such as smoking in films promotes uptake of the use by adolescents, this has lead to the use of rating and to restrict access to films that have this type of content.

Drugs gave played a substantial role in film narratives, it is clear that the way drugs have been presented on screen has varied over the past century, shifting from positive to negative drug usage and different representations, all of which are often a reflection of greater societal and cultural trends.

• The on screen popularity of Cocaine reflected the high usage among the starts and grew in the use of upper class and the elite. 

up in smoke

• Marijuana 
• cocaine 

drug users in this film are portrayed as lazy 'stoners' that have unrealistic solutions to the on going problems and commit crimes such as driving under the influence of drugs. 

Trainspotting 

this film is another film that shows drug use of high class drugs such as 

• Heroin 
• marijuana 

The drug users are shown as lower class citizens that have a difficult life and under go consequences such as death, neglect and jail/court. 

Clean and Sober.

• The main character is a successful real estate sales man but is addicted to cocaine, he embezzles $92,000 from his company from a escrow account and looses $50,00 due to his cocaine addiction, he wakes one morning with a girl who has had an heart attack in result of a cocaine addiction and he tries to cover up the fact drugs have been used. The police do still find out what has happened and then Daryl tried to flee the country but he has no cash and his card gets declined he then attends a drug rehabilitation program which lasts about a month and guarantees anonymity.

For further information about drug use in films i have looked on the BBFC website and this is some information I have found.

The BBFC prohibit detailed portrayal of drug use that could cause pubic or mental health problems even at 18 level, and particularly children. Any misuse or glamorization of drugs maybe cut out of films that show misuse of drugs or any danger that they could be showing.