Sumnall, H, Atkinson, AM, Montgomery, C, Maynard, OM and Nicholls, J (2022) Effects of media representations of drug related deaths on public stigma and support for harm reduction. International Journal of Drug Policy, 111. ISSN 0955-3959

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Abstract

Background: Drug related deaths (DRD) are at historically high levels in the United Kingdom (UK), but some approaches that have the potential to reduce risk of mortality remain controversial. Public support makes an important contribution to drug policy development but there are high levels of public stigma towards people who use drugs (PWUD), and this is partly shaped by media representations. We investigated whether depiction of the characteristics of decedents represented in news articles about DRD was associated with differences in stigmatising attitudes and support for harm reduction policy. Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional online study with a randomised design, conducted with a nationally representative sample (UK). Participants (N = 1280) were randomly presented with one of eight simulated news stories that reported on a DRD that differed with respect to drug (ecstasy or heroin), and the gender (male or female) and age (younger or older) of the decedent. Data were analysed using MANOVA. Results: Data were obtained for 1248 participants (51.0% female; mean age 45.7±15.4). Stigma was higher towards depictions of male, older, and heroin deaths (all p <. 001). Harm reduction support was higher in those participants seeing older compared to younger subjects (p =. 035), and the older ecstasy decedent compared to younger decedent (p =. 029). Conclusion: Presentation of some types of DRD are associated with higher public stigma towards the decedent than others. Those groups developing agenda-setting activities designed to reduce stigma or foster public support for harm reduction policies should consider the different ways in which audiences may respond to the depiction and framing of DRD in news media.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Drug related death; News media; Public opinion; Stigma; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 16 Studies in Human Society; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; Substance Abuse
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2022 10:48
Last Modified:	20 Feb 2023 15:31
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103909
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18371

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