The pros and cons of Breaking Bad and its portrayal of crystal meth addiction and dealing
AMC’s hit show Breaking Bad stars Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher with a mountain of bills and a cancer diagnosis that has given him two years to live. In order to make ends meet, and breathe some excitement into his mundane life, he turns to crystal meth production.
Soon, the mild-mannered Walter is engaged in gun-play, drug running and even murder.
The show pulls few punches, and is extremely graphic in its subject matter, especially considering that it is run on a channel that is part of the basic cable package.
But how realistic is the portrayal of drug addiction, specifically crystal meth addiction, on Breaking Bad? Does the show glamorize the use and sale of the drug? Does it provide a proper deterrent for young people who are considering taking crystal meth, or even selling it? Or does it provide an impartial look at the realities of drug addiction in the United States?
The result is kind of a mixture of all three, leaving us to consider the pros and cons of the show.
Pros of Breaking Bad
- A gritty portrayal of the crystal meth production business
- A hard look at the desperation of those addicted to crystal meth
- Does not create any “saints” among those involved in the crystal meth distribution process.
Cons of Breaking Bad
- Excuses drug sales as a means of supporting one’s family
- Does not spend nearly enough time dealing with the individual fall out of crystal meth use
- Portrays teens and kids at risk using dark comedy that could distract from the seriousness of their real-life counterparts situations.
If you or someone you love is struggling with crystal meth addiction, contact a drug rehab facility in your area. The professionals at a drug rehabilitation program can help motivated individuals break the cycle of addiction.