Teenagers listen to an average of 2.5 hours of music per day.
One out of three songs features explicit references to drugs and/or alcohol, which means that kids get 35 references to drug and/or alcohol abuse/use for every hour of music that they listen to.
This has become more of an issue than ever before because kids have mp3 players and iPods at their hands at almost all times, allowing them to listen to explicit music dealing with drugs and alcohol away from the ears of their parents.
According to a study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 9% of pop songs had alcohol related lyrics, 14% of rock songs did, 20% of Hip Hop songs did, 36% of country songs did, and 77% of rap songs featured lyrics relative to alcohol and drugs.
The same study concluded that only 3% of songs sing about tobacco use, 14% sang about marijuana use, and 24% include alcohol references in the lyrics.
The average teen is exposed to 84 references to substance use/abuse per day and 591 per week.
The average teen that listens to pop music would only experience 5 references to substances per day, when the average teen who listens to rap would experience 251 references per day.
Music lacks the visual perspective that can persuade kids to use alcohol, but exposure to music featuring alcohol related lyrics is much more common.
Music is also a powerful social force that connects with kids personalities, memories, and mood.
Dartmouth Medical School found that after using 600 films and 5,000 students, movies have a strong influence in a teen's decision to drink at a young age.
Images and pictures are some of the strongest influences on young children rivaling only drinking seen by parents and peers.
Professor James Sargent at DMS found that alcohol was used in 52% of G-Rated films, 89% of PG films, 93% for PG-13, and 95% for R-Rated films.
Scientists also concluded that alcohol consumption increased by 1.5 times in college students who were exposed to television shows and advertisements which directly featured alcohol and alcohol use.
Alcohol References In Music
Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/under-the-influence-ofmusic/
Alcohol References in Movies and TV
- Dartmouth Medical School found that after using 600 films and 5,000 students, movies have a strong influence in a teen's decision to drink at a young age.
- Images and pictures are some of the strongest influences on young children rivaling only drinking seen by parents and peers.
- Professor James Sargent at DMS found that alcohol was used in 52% of G-Rated films, 89% of PG films, 93% for PG-13, and 95% for R-Rated films.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/36113.php- Scientists also concluded that alcohol consumption increased by 1.5 times in college students who were exposed to television shows and advertisements which directly featured alcohol and alcohol use.
Source: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/63/29621/tv-influences-higher-alcohol-consumption.html