Substance use

[Client]
[Instructor]
[Subject]
[Date]
Media Influences on Substance Use
Message to the Client:
Here is the link to the article, please copy it or print it and attach it to the essay, since a screenshot would not be of great use because its resolution is quite low. Good luck 🙂

1) What is the message the source sends and how does it influence a person’s beliefs, attitudes, or perceptions about substance use or addictive behaviors?
There is a debate related to the medical use of Cannabis and how its decriminalization might increase its usage among youth. This New York Times article debates that notion and considers it is flawed. Consequently, the message this article tries to convey is more related to the fact that loosening the laws pertaining to medical marijuana use would not end up in a drug craze or problems related to youth using the substance more frequently. Also, it challenges the conventional perceptions on cannabis. Said perceptions considered cannabis in the same rank as “hard” drugs, which according to this article is not right. Besides, it challenges the idea that decriminalizing cannabis as a medical substance would not increase its consumption among young people. However, the article does not speak about legalization, as it still considers the long-term risks too high to consider its extensive use as medicine. (Carey 1)
2) What age group or demographic do you think this example is aimed at, or, if an article or news story, what age or demographic does it most pertain to?
Since the newspaper’s demographics are quite balanced (Mahapatra 1), the article does not lean to a particular group.

Instead, it seeks to show a broad perspective of the debate of medical cannabis use. Nevertheless, since it speaks mostly of young users, it might have been written as a thought piece meant to elicit if not safe consumption, at least a degree of understanding regarding medicinal cannabis. Hence, after reading it, it seems an article about all ages but mostly mean to the 18-25 demographics.
Works Cited
Carey, B. “Medical Use of Marijuana Doesn’t Increase Youths’ Use, Study Finds.” New York Times 15 June 2015, Health sec. Web. 5 Nov. 2015.
Mahapatra, L. “Audience Profiles: Who Actually Reads The New York Times, Watches FoxNews, And Other News Publications And Channels?” International Business Times 1 Nov. 2013, Media & Culture sec. Web. 5 Nov. 2015.