'Miracle cure' or 'liquid handcuffs': reporting on naltrexone and methadone in the Australian print media.

Introduction And Aims: The news media is an important source of information regarding new developments in medicine and public health interventions. Previous research has indicated that in many cases, reporting on new treatments can be inaccurate or sensationalist. This paper presents analysis of Australian print media reporting on two treatment options for heroin dependence (naltrexone and methadone).

Examining supply changes in Australia's cocaine market.

Introduction And Aims: Media attention to cocaine use and supply has increased following some of the largest cocaine seizures in Australia's history. Whether there has been an expansion in supply remains unclear. This paper examines the evidence behind assertions of increased supply in Australia and the scale and nature of any apparent increase, using proxy indicators of cocaine importation, distribution and use.

Illicit drugs and the media: models of media effects for use in drug policy research.

Issues: Illicit drugs are never far from the media gaze and although identified almost a decade ago as 'a new battleground' for the alcohol and other drug (AOD) field there has been limited research examining the role of the news media and its effects on audiences and policy.

Approach: This paper draws together media theories from communication literature to examine media functions. We illustrate how each function is relevant for media and drugs research by drawing upon the existing literature examining Australian media coverage during the late 1990s of escalating heroin-related problems and proposed solutions.

Reported value of cannabis seizures in Australian newspapers: are they accurate?

Introduction And Aims: The news media is often touted as an important, yet inaccurate source of information about drug issues for the general public. This paper investigates the accuracy of reporting in the Australian media regarding the value of cannabis seizures made by the police.

Design And Methods: A sample of Australian newspaper articles, which featured both a direct estimate of the value of a cannabis seizure and the number of plants seized, were examined.