How the media report Ecstasy

Abstract

An essential part of democracy is for government policies to be questioned and criticized, a function normally undertaken by the media. However, the media fail to play this important role when it comes to illicit drug use. Instead of questioning policy and informing the public, the media support government propaganda and suppress contradictory views. The long-term effect of this has been to disempower the public, making informed debate impossible. Deliberate misreporting is regarded as fair when it adds to propaganda against illicit drug use. When opinions differ on the dangers of illicit drugs, the media report those which support the propaganda while ignoring the opposing views, even those of the most eminent scientists. Research into drug use is also similarly biased through the grant application process. Funding to study negative effects of illicit drugs is available, while funding to study possible benefits is not. Publication of results is frequently biased, even respected journals reporting negative results of illicit drug use without evidence. However, a new addition to the media is the Internet, which is not subject to establishment pressures. This medium provides a platform for uncensored exchange of information and has become the most credible source of public knowledge on illicit drugs.