Journal #6

PSA: Breaking Bad: Season 2, episode 12 "Phoenix"

I watched this episode of Breaking Bad earlier this year on Netflix. Breaking Bad is a popular American television show that depicts the evolution of a man from a normal father to a drug mogul. While the entire show serves as a anti-drug PSA warning about the potential consequences of using or selling drugs, this particular episode is especially powerful due to the death of a main character.

The intended audience of this message is heavy drug users. The show appeals to both genders and adults as well as teenagers, reaching a wide audience. While the episode hopes to prevent non-users from trying drugs, it aims to reach drug-users contemplating quitting and former addicts. In the episode, Jane, a main character and former herione addict, relapses and is drawn back into trying heroine again. Jane chokes on her own vomit as a result of using the drug and dies in her sleep.

The objectives of the episode are to warn non-drug users about the potential consequences of using or selling drugs and to prevent former addicts from relapsing. The show as a whole demonstrates the long-term consequences that involving oneself with drugs can have; this particular episode is a climax for this message as the overdose of a former addict demonstrates that even one encounter can have a serious impact.

The show uses entertainment education to impact the audience and disseminate its message. The show itself is extremely entertaining and draws a large audience, but also carries with it a positive anti-drug message embedded into its plot. While most individuals viewing the show have pre-existing knowledge that drugs are bad, the show demonstrates a different side of drug involvement. The main character does not use any drugs throughout the show, but his entire life deteriorates in such a manner as a result of his involvement.

One question I would ask the director of the series is whether he considered partnering with any anti-drug organizations to give the message a greater impact?

The show as a whole was extremely successful in creating discussion around drug cartels and illegal drug wars in the United States. This particular episode was also brilliant in discouraging drug users and former addicts from using drugs with its emotional appeal and ability to relate to its intended audience.