23 Mar When I think of drug-related? violence, I think of crimes committed to obtain drugs.? We see in ?the movies and on television c
When I think of “drug-related” violence, I think of crimes committed to obtain drugs. We see in the movies and on television children stealing items to sell for drugs, drug riddled addicts killing to get their next high or a gang war but not specific to drug trafficking and distribution. The lack of accurate coverage in our mass media on the true center of drug-related violence is disheartening. According to McQuail, “the study of mass media is based on the notion that the media has a significant effect on its audience” (Camarillo, Omar, 2021).
After reading the assigned chapters in the Chasing the Scream I was dumbfounded on my prior ignorance. It turned out 7.5 percent of the killings took place after a person took drugs and their behavior seemed to change. Some 2 percent were the result of addict trying to steal to feed their habit and it going wrong. And more than three quarters- the vast majority-were like Chino’s attacks. They weren’t caused by drugs, any more than AL Capone’s killings were caused by alcohol. They were, Goldstein showed, caused by prohibition (Hari, 2015, p.66). I believe if people were more aware of the actual statistics of drug-related violence they would be more open to changing the downcast stereotype of all addicts. I assume many people, as myself, have not witnessed or been a part of drug-related violence and take for granted the information we are receiving from mass media on the topic. If it were more widely publicized correctly that 75 percent of all drug-related violence was within the trafficking and distribution sector, it would most likely lessen the brutal stereotypes placed on all drug abusers.
References
Camarillo, Omar (2021) Who are Deemed the “Worthy” and “Unworthy” Victims of Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence?, Journal of Borderlands Studies, 36(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2018.1471732
Hari, J. (2015). Chasing the scream: The first and last days of the war on drugs. Bloomsbury.
RISE Model – Copyright © 2013 Emily Wray – www.RiseModel.com
Meets Standards Does NOT Meet Standards
REFLECT Recall, ponder and communicate
discussion Responds to the project/discussion in
vague terms by addressing assignment
insight into what was recalled
EXAMPLE: “I relate/concur/disagree with X because…” OR “I like what you did with X because…”
INQUIRE Seek information and/or provide ideas through questioning
Asks thought-provoking questions that might lead to a new perception; Asks
clarifying questions to provoke deeper understanding
Asks passive questions that require a one-word answer or provoke no
response at all
EXAMPLE: “Have you considered looking at X from Y perspective?” OR “When you said X, am I understanding you to mean XY?”
SUGGEST Introduce ideas for improvement of current iteration
improvement of current project/ discussion based on assignment criteria
improvement of current project/ discussion based on assignment criteria
EXAMPLE: include supporting information from X resource – Here’s a link”
ELEVATE Raise to a higher degree or purpose in future iterations
how to expand the project/discussion beyond its original scope or stated
assignment criteria
Proposes no ideas for expansion
EXAMPLE: “Perhaps you can expand this in X capacity to further address Y” OR “Perhaps you can re-purpose X as Y for Z”
