Reality TV and addiction

What do you think of the reality TV shows that follow people as they seek treatment for their addictions - does it help to highlight addiction problems, promote treatment or is it invasive for the sake of being invasive?  Is the impact of these shows overall positive or negative?

Mephedrone Arrest..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8653498.stm

This link above refers to a news article published on the BBC website about the first mephedrone related arrest in Wales.

Is this the kind of news story you expected to see two weeks after mephedrone was banned?  Do you think that the ban will reduce the number of people using mephedrone in the UK?

Calzaghe - still a Golden Boy?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/03/29/calzaghe-says-sorry-after-publication-of-cocaine-stories-91466-26129706/

The above link refers to the news story that sees Joe Calzaghe, a world renowned boxing champion, publicly apologise for his occasional use of cocaine.

The former super middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion said in yesterday’s statement:

 “I very much regret my occasional use of cocaine in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring....I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans....It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing."

Last night publicist and PR guru Max Clifford said Calzaghe’s “golden boy” image would be hit hard by the revelations.

“I think this will upset a lot of people,” he said....It’s the first real blemish on his career and has tarnished him....The golden boy of British boxing is not as golden as we thought he was. It just diminishes his career."

Do you think that recent stories about Calzaghe ruin his untarnished boxing record or is this story just another inidication of the reality of recreational drug use in the UK?

Drugs Opera opens in Mexico City

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8563528.stm

The above link refers to the premiere of the first Mexican opera to deal directly with the country's drugs conflict in Mexico City.

"Out of the last 20 years, I would say, this is the one opera that is telling us a story that is not only on everyone's mind, but also in the headlines. It is how Mexico is perceived outside as well," Jose Arean, Musical Director.

Do you think that this type of genre should be banned or encouraged in the arts?

Airbrushing Ban - impact on eating disorders?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226162/Call-ban-airbrushing-ads-leave-girls-loathing-bodies.html

The above link refers to an article published by the Daily Mail that discusses the call from 40 of the world's leading experts on body image to ban airbrushing photos in advertising for under 16s.

The experts advise that airbrushing models to give them unrealistic bodies has helped to create “a generation of young women with eating disorders and depression”.

In response to the experts claims that such unnaturally skinny models can make 'girls as young as five become self-conscious about their weight' advertisers have suggested that what goes on at home (e.g. diet and parental influence) is more likely to influence young woman.

The Advertising Standards Authority has already received over a thousand complaints about airbrushed images, but so far has refused to act; stating that the complaints have no scientific foundation – in response four academics have completed a literature review of 100 academic studies suggesting that there is a scientific bases to the complaints.

What do you think – will banning airbrushed images have a significant impact on young people developing eating disorders?

Prof. Nutt - what do you think?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6509297/MPs-demand-answers-over-Nutt-sacking.html

The link above refers to an article published by The Telegraph that discusses the letter that the Commons Science and Technology Committee has written to Mr Johnson requesting details about the sacking of Prof. Nutt - specifically if he had breached the terms of his contract or the codes of practise before he was forced to resign.

There is much controversy over the sacking of one the countries leading advisors - what do you think?  Do politics and science have some common ground or if researched based evidence at odds with what the government thinks we need to know?

 

Addiction Documentaries - interesting or influencial?

Documentary and TV programmes that depict addicts suffering from a variety of addictions are aired regularly.  Some focus directly on one person's individual experience of an addiction, others take a wider view of health and social issues across a region or a nation.  The viewing ratings suggest that these programmes are popular, however, are the programmes simply interesting to the viewer or do they have a more influential impact?  Do you think that watching a documentary could (or does) prompt people to recognise the severity of their own problems - if there were more programmes made about seeking help would more addicts ask for it?  How do you think TV programme surrounding addiction impact on the population?