Breaking Bad blamed for surge in European crystal meth use
A popular American television series has been blamed for a surge in crystal meth usage in the UK and throughout the continent by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
The notoriety of the fictional show has had a real-world impact with Germany particularly badly affected, reporting a 51 per cent rise in usage. Border staff at Britain’s ports and airports meanwhile has witnessed a 400 per cent annual rise in smuggling attempts.
Police on the ground have also reported a quadrupling in seizures.
Prof. Ellis Cashmore, a media expert from Staffordshire University, said: “Although the show does not go out to glamorise the drug, its very inclusion promotes interest in that substance. One of the central protagonists, Jesse, played by Aaron Paul, is portrayed as a drug addict and he is now a Hollywood A-lister.”