Framing Addiction

Framing Addiction uncovers how mainstream American media have shaped public understanding of drug epidemics through narratives deeply influenced by race, class, and power. Drawing on content and discourse analyses of six major newspapers, compares the heroin epidemic of the 1970s with the opioid crisis of the 21st century, exposing how Black and Latino communities were criminalized while White opioid users were portrayed as victims in need of care.

This timely and necessary work explores the human cost of biased journalism and the policy consequences of selective empathy. From Nixon’s “War on Drugs” to today’s calls for treatment and recovery, Framing Addiction traces how media narratives both reflect and reinforce inequality. Grounded in critical race theory, journalism studies, and public health discourse, this book offers a new framework for ethical, equitable reporting on addiction.

A vital resource for journalists, scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersections of media, race, and public health.