This assignment meets the following Course Learning Objectives: 

– Articulate basic drug terminology and drug taking behavior
– Identify the various addictive substances – legal and illegal – and their classifications
– Analyze the reasons people commonly abuse substances
– Analyze how substances affect the mind and body and society

In  2010, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy  statement addressing the complex relationships among children,  adolescents, substance abuse, and the media. This assignment requires a  critical examination of the AAP publication and a critique of a media  portrayal of substance use, with links made to the AAP statement and  course material. Conclusions about the implications of the media  portrayals and the policies recommended by the AAP also should be made.  
Preparation
Step One:  Read the AAP Policy Statement located below. Make some notes for  yourself about points of agreement or disagreement you have with the  statement and specific findings regarding media depictions of substance .  
Step Two:  Find a current example of substance use portrayal seen in the media;  for example, scenes from a movie, a television show, or a commercial;  print ads; or portrayals found in "new media" as discussed in the AAP  article. The Internet is a good tool for finding film or television  portrayals of substance use as well as examples of print ads if ready  access to first-hand media is not available.
Construction
Step Three: start with an introduction that summarizes the  main findings of the AAP article and previews what will be covered in  the coming pages. Next, compare and contrast the portrayal of substance  use found in the media with the information learned about that substance  in the class and course readings. What messages about the substance are  being portrayed? How accurate are those messages relative to the actual  data on substance use? Be sure to cite the course readings as needed.
Continue  by comparing and contrasting the portrayal of substance use found in  the media with the criticism of media portrayals found in the AAP summary.  Does the media example match their arguments or contradict them? What  links and connections can be made? Be sure to cite the article as  needed.  
Next,  draw some conclusions about the portrayal of substance use found in the  media, addressing the following: What are the implications of this type  of portrayal? What messages are being sent and to whom? Are those  messages an accurate representation of the use of this substance? Should  media portrayals be required to be accurate in their depictions of use,  showing both positive and negative consequences?  
Finally,  review the guidelines suggested by the AAP at the end of their policy  statement and address the following: Although directed specifically at  pediatricians, which of those recommendations is most important? Why?  Are these recommendations necessary? If followed, will they be effective  in addressing the concerns raised earlier in the article? Be sure to  cite sources as needed.