Substance Use and Misuse in Brazilian Movies (2000–2008)

Abstract

Considering the absence of data on the appearance of drugs other than alcohol and tobacco in movie scenes, we decided to study the prevalence of portrayal of illicit drug use in a convenience sample of 50 Brazilian Movies. A total of 192 scenes (12h49′03^″) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and assessed in a structured manner. Despite several limitations regarding the nature of this comparison, we found that scenes show substance use and misuse almost similar to that in the general population, mainly alcohol (especially among people of low socioeconomic status), cannabis and inhalants. Main differences were found in cocaine and tranquilizers (over- and underexposure in movies, respectively).

RÉSUMÉ

Compte tenu du manque de données sur la représentation de l'usage de drogues (excluant l'alcool et le tabac) dans des scènes de films, nous avons décidé d’étudier la prévalence de la représentation de la consommation de drogues illicites dans un échantillon de commodité de 50 films brésiliens. 192 scènes (12h49′03^″) qui répondaient aux critères d'inclusion et ont été évalués de manière structurée. Malgré les limites inhérentes à une telle comparaison, les scènes montrent l'utilisation et l'abus de substances d'une manière presque similaire à la population générale, en particulier l'alcool (en particulier dans le statut socio-économique inférieur), de la marijuana et de substances inhalées. Les principales différences ont été trouvées dans la cocaïne et les tranquillisants (super-et sous-affichage des films, respectivement).

RESUMEN

Teniendo en cuenta la falta de datos sobre la representación del consumo de drogas (excluyendo alcohol y tabaco) en las escenas de la película, se decidió estudiar la prevalencia de la representación del consumo de drogas ilícitas en una muestra de conveniencia de 50 películas brasileñas. 192 escenas (12h49′03^″) que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y fueron evaluados de forma estructurada. A pesar de las limitaciones inherentes a dicha comparación, las escenas muestran el uso y abuso de sustancias de una manera bastante similar a la población general, principalmente el alcohol (especialmente en el bajo nivel socioeconómico), la marihuana y los inhalantes. Las principales diferencias se encuentran en la cocaína y tranquilizantes (súper y subexposición en las películas, respectivamente).

Keywords: :

• Brazilian Movies portrayal
• illicit drug use
• dependence
• type of beverage

Notes

3 The reader is reminded that inhalants are not a “drug.” They represented a manner of use of a range of licit as well as illicit active chemicals. Editor's note.

4 With the advent of artificial science and its theoretical underpinnings (chaos, complexity, and uncertainty theories) it is now posited that much of human behavior is complex, dynamic, multi-dimensional, level/phase structured, non-linear, law-driven and bounded (culture, time, place, age, gender, ethnicity, etc.). Real life drug-use related behaviors and their presentations in a range of art forms, in however these are defined and delineated would be relevant examples. There are two important issues to consider as one explore “cause and effects” and which are derived from this: (1) using linear models/tools to study non-linear processes/phenomena can and does result in misleading conclusions and can therefore also result in inappropriate intervention; (2) the concepts prediction and control have different meanings and dimensions than they do in the more traditional linear ‘cause and effect’ paradigms. (Buscema, M. (1998), Artificial Neural Networks, Substance Use & Misuse, 33(1–3). Editor's note.