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Public health messaging in media coverage of drug seizures
Kang, S., Heydt, J. V. D., Joshi-Dave, R. A., Papasodoro, J., Beletsky, L., & Ray, B. (2025). Missed opportunities: Public health messaging in media coverage of drug seizures. Public Health in Practice, 9, Article 100601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100601
OBJECTIVE: To examine mainstream media coverage of drug seizures and identify trends in messaging on substance use treatment and other public health responses.
STUDY DESIGN: We compiled news reports published January 2022-May 2024 on drug seizures in the United States.
METHODS: We extracted information on incident trends (including geography, drugs and other items seized, agencies involved, and mentions of substance use treatment-related resources).
RESULTS: Only three of 211 articles (1 %) had any mention of substance use treatment or other public health-related resources. Of those three articles, only one provided actionable information linking to resources.
CONCLUSIONS: Drug seizure-related media coverage is a missed opportunity to prevent drug-related harms. The lack of public health messaging in drug seizure-related media coverage should be rectified by refocusing coverage away from drug enforcement narratives and instead provide guidance towards evidence-based resources and services.
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