Framing Theory

The essential feature of substance related and addictive disorders outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is “a cluster of cognitive, behavioural, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 483). The diagnosis of substance use disorder is based on a pathological pattern of behaviours related to the use of the substance determined by the following groups of criteria: impaired control over substance use; social impairment; risky use of the substance; and pharmacological criteria (APA, 2013). Substance use disorders occur in a range of severity from mild to severe, determined by the number of criteria met by the individual (APA, 2013). Substance use and addictive disorders are chronic health conditions and affected persons remain vulnerable and require long-term and continued treatment (WHO, 2013). However, public perceptions of the rehabilitation of drug-dependent
Because of the nature of this theory, I have chosen to integrate the theory into the literature review. Framing constitutes how a story is presented in the media (Collins, Abelson, Thomson & Law, 2013). A frame in a news stories is what is determined as the most salient aspect of an issue based on what aspect of a particular issue is presented (Entman, 1993; Collins, et al., 2012). Mass media has the potential to influence public attitude through the framing of news stories (Daku, Gibbs & Heymann, 2012). Newspapers, or journalists writing for newspapers, have control over what aspects of an issue will be featured in a news story (Collins et al., 2002). Framing can determine how majority of recipients note, understand, and evaluate a problem, and subsequently act based on what has been suggested as an appropriate response (Entman, 1993; Daku et al.,