Photo: Haim Horenstein
Local Pop Culture May Induce Drug Use
Israeli books, music CD’s intended for young audiences romanticize drug scene, anthropologist says
JERUSALEM - Local popular culture is turning children and teenagers to drugs, said anthropologist Tamir Leon.
Books and music CD’s intended for young audiences romanticize the drug scene in popular travel destinations such as India and create “a strong incentive to embark on such trips," said Leon during a special session held by the Knesset’s Anti-Drug Abuse Committee today, Leon said
Such texts should not be censored in the name of freedom of expression and creation, he said, but their consumption may be limited by labeling them with special stickers stating they are harmful and dangerous, as is done in the U.S.
In addition, the government should focus on anti-drug education in schools and in the military, Tamir said.
Israel Anti-Drug Authority representative Hagit Boni-Noach said the problem is the lack of awareness among parents, who are not sufficiently familiar with various types of drugs and the harm they may inflict.
“The users themselves also make light of the consequences,” she said. “They shy away from the term ‘addicts’, and they believe they are fine because they only use ‘light drugs’ and not heroin.”
