Question: The media (in all forms) is responsible for glamorizing substance use, which could encourage individuals to use and subsequently abuse drugs. Discuss this statement in relation to adolescent behavior and suggest measures to counter media influences. 

 

Answer: Thank you for this great question! It is important to be mindful of exposure to media content that portrays substance use. Movies, books, TV shows, and social media platforms may have content that shows teens and adults engaging in substance use. As explained in this previous portal response, substance use content can show up on social media as advertisements, marketing, content created by celebrities, or content created and shared by peers.  

This previous portal response also explains that adolescents and young adults who are exposed to online content about substance use are more likely to use substances, for example:  

  • A study of adolescents and young adults ages 12-23 found that on days when participants were exposed to substance-related content that was posted by their peers on social media, they were more likely to use substances.   
  • Another study of 18-20-year-olds found that participants who posted about alcohol intoxication and problem drinking on social media were more than four times as likely to report problematic drinking than participants who did not post about intoxication and problem drinking online.  

In other words, what teens see and share online about substance use may influence what they do offline. 

How Does Media Influence Substance Use? 

One way that media depictions of substance use may influence youth substance use is explained by the Social Influence Theory. This theory describes how people adjust their attitudes, and thus their behaviors, based on what they think are normal or desirable behaviors.  For example, if a young person sees media representations of many teens engaging in substance use, this type of content can lead teens to feel that “everyone is doing this” and that this is a normal behavior for teens. They may then decide that they should do this too. As another example, if a teen sees a movie or a social media post that shows a popular, good-looking, powerful main character/celebrity engaging in substance use, this will influence viewers who want to be like that character to act in similar ways.  

Prevalence of Substance Use Among Adolescents  

Every year, a national survey called Monitoring the Future is administered to U.S. 8th grade, 10th grade, and 12th grade students. This survey monitors current trends in adolescent substance use. The most recent Monitoring the Future report found that use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine vaping all decreased in 2024 compared to previous years.   

While media portrayals can make it seem like using substances is a normal part of high school or adolescence, data from the Monitoring the Future report shows that the majority of adolescents abstain from substance use, which means that they do not use substances at all. Abstention from substance use in 2024 was the highest it has ever been among adolescents:  

  • Abstention in 12th grade was 67% in 2024 (compared to 53% in 2017)  
  • Abstention in 10th grade was 80% in 2024 (compared to 69% in 2017)  
  • Abstention in 8th grade was 90% in 2024 (compared to 87% in 2017)  

Tips to Counter Media Influence  

  • Talk with your parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults about the substance-related content you see on social media.   
    • The Communication “C” of the 5 Cs of Media Use is a helpful guideline for how to have conversations about concerning content you see on social media.  
  • Consider using app settings and filters to decrease the amount of substance-related content you see on social media.  
    • The Glossary of Digital Media Platforms provides information on how to apply content filters and other in-app controls to decrease substance-related content that shows up on your social media feed.  
  • If there are specific peers or content creators who you follow on social media who post substance use content that is concerning to you, consider unfollowing them or muting their posts.  
  • If someone you know is posting about using substances and you are worried for their safety, consider telling a trusted adult at school or home. 
  • Consider the advice of AAP Youth Advisory Panel member Rin (which you can see if you scroll to the bottom of this previous portal response), who suggests that teens should have open dialogues with their parents about substance use and educate themselves about risks associated with substance use.  
  • Explore the following resources which provide information about adolescent substance use:  

  

References 

 

 

Age: 13-17  

Topics: Media content, substance use  

Role: Youth 

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Last Updated

08/13/2026

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics