AHS Views

According to a study conducted by Dr. Denise Herd of the University of California at Berkeley, rappers - whose music used to warn against drugs - are now contributing to drug addiction and the need for more drug addiction help.

As role models for many of America’s youth, shouldn’t rappers try to improve society and not glorify the use of drugs?

Dr. Herd studied 341 of the most popular rap songs from 1979 to 1997. She found that after 1993, 69% of rap songs contained positive references to drug use. Compare that to only 11% between 1979 and 1984.

I would have to say that is remarkable and disgusting. Do inner city and urban parents want their kids listening to someone who promotes drugs to them?

Sixty percent of prison populations are minorities and 70% of those in prison have an addiction problem. 12% of black males in their twenties are in prison and a large percentage also have drug problems.

I wonder why rappers as a group would want to make positive references to drug use and make an at-risk group even more at risk. Are there any famous rappers out there who would start a non profit or a coalition to warn young people about abusing drugs instead of making it the thing to do in a rap song? Getting drug addiction help services is not always easy - staying drug free is your best bet.