Blog #6 - JRN 340

The opioid epidemic has flooded headlines for years, and continues to be a topic that journalists find themselves covering quite often. Although sad, it is becoming rather difficult to open your social media feeds or turn on the t.v. and not come across a story regarding the opioid epidemic and how it is affecting families in the United States. These stories can vary from those overdosing to the infliction on children.

The article “Turning the Focus from Opioid Addiction to Treatment and Recovery” discusses how it is becoming much more difficult for journalists to report on how the U.S. should address opioid addiction within the media.

In my opinion specifically, I think it’s important for journalists to discuss both the human level and personal impact of the opioid epidemic, but also giving the scientific fact. Possibly discussing stats, treatment and the recovery process as well. All of these go hand in hand when talking about the epidemic, and I think it’s important that it is all included when reporting on it.

In the article, a director of the Science program at MIT discusses how the “coverage of the opioid epidemic on a human level has been pretty good,” however, “there have been many fewer stories talking about the science behind the aspect of it, the science behind addiction, or the science behind treatment and recovery."

It goes on and talks about the possible reason for this coverage imbalance, which the article says is due to the lack of agreement among scientists, treatment providers, and people in long-term recovery about what approaches work best for different individuals. Another challenge for journalists that is also mentioned is their ability in finding way to write about recovery and not just have it be anecdotally based.

However, as media outlets shift from covering the problem of addiction to highlighting possible solutions for those who are involved, many journalists find it easier to focus on what is wrong with the recovery system rather than say what solution is best.

I, personally as a journalist, agree with that approach. I would feel more comfortable addressing the issues within the treatment system that are known and backed up with real facts and stats, rather than discuss what recovery processes I suggest are the best. I don’t think it would be right for a reporter to give their idea of what solutions are best, therefore, I would stick to the facts of what is seen to be a problem in certain treatments that are supported with data.

Either way, I think the opioid epidemic is a topic that reporters should be extra cautious about. I am not saying what is right nor wrong in this case, but it is important to make sure facts are included and that everything is supported.