The rehabilitation fallacies of media

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If you have ever been to a rehab centre or seen someone close to you experience the journey; you would know that the reality is a lot less colourful than it is portrayed in the movies. Media, in some ways, controls our perception and alters it to fit whatever is accepted according to our current societal norms and standards. The same rule is applied when we talk about rehabilitation psychology or rehab centres. When I ask you about rehab centres your first thought would probably be some scene from a movie like ‘28 Days’ or ‘A Star Is Born’, but, what if I tell you that these movies are the most inaccurate portrayals of rehabilitation centres (or psychology)? In this blog, I will be debunking myths and analysing the accuracy–or inaccuracy–of media portrayals of rehabilitation psychology to understand how these portrayals lead to fact distortion and stigmatisation among the public. 

The fallacy of instant recovery

“Hey, I have been addicted to alcohol for a long time, but I’m not sure how to get rid of my addiction”. “Don’t worry we have a 28-day rehabilitation program, which will help you get rid of your alcohol addiction you have had for almost 7 years”. See how ridiculous that sounds? The media has made everyone almost believe that rehabilitation therapy works instantaneously, whereas, this is absolutely not true! Administering and receiving rehabilitation therapy specifically in cases of addiction or substance abuse, requires an abundance of patience and perseverance. It includes several stages like treatment initiation, early abstinence, maintaining abstinence and advanced recovery; the process is long and painful wherein the patient might also relapse and start using again. The recovery is not immediate and more often than not, goes on for more than just 28 days. However, this flawed portrayal leads people to believe that they can get better in such a small amount of time and might enrol in some money-leaching rehab centre. 

The fallacy of representation 

Think about all the movies or TV shows you have seen that portray rehab centres or rehabilitation therapies. Did you notice how almost all of them start with the protagonist committing a crime or a minor offence which is then followed by them going for rehabilitation therapy? This is how the media primes you to believe that rehabilitation therapy is only meant for people who show delinquent behaviour or behaviour that deviates from society. More often than not, this mindset proves to be an obstacle for a person trying to recover from an addiction and seek help from others. The fear of “what would they think of me”, is another name for the stigmatisation of seeking help from mental health professionals. Yet, you see articles on how celebrities have been in and out of rehab centres and think that this would normalise asking for help and going through rehabilitation therapy; however, if you look closer, you will see that these articles always portray the actors in a negative light which in turn reinforces the stigma that has already been set in our minds. This fear of judgement, stigma and the fear of exclusion from society hinders our ability to ask for help when we actually need it, and this is not just in the case of seeking rehabilitation therapy it applies to counselling as well. 

The fallacy of underrepresentation 

The concept of rehab centres has always been there in Hollywood movies, media and TV shows. On the other hand, I still cannot think of one Bollywood movie which revolves around the concept of addiction and rehabilitation–let alone portraying it accurately. This lack of awareness around the concept gives print media and social media a chance to mislead blank slates, the negativity around celebrities visiting rehab centres causes people (especially in India) to avoid asking for help and continue with their substance abuse despite being acquainted with its detrimental effects. Awareness around this topic is needed in India especially when it is the second-largest tobacco consumer in the world. As a result of less awareness, the blame for a structural failure of a rehabilitation programme could be displaced to the individual which would discourage them and others around them from trying again. In India, where we see tobacco being used so extensively, there is no proper system in place to help with the rehabilitation of the same problem. Instead, we have advertisements asking them to quit smoking, drinking or using; like the ‘Mukesh advertisement’ shown before the start of the movie. We need more than just asking people to quit substance abuse, we need proper systems in place to support people trying to quit. 

While we are seeing a rise in awareness around such topics through social media, it also comes with the harm of spreading misinformation among people. We see a new substance to use or abuse in the market every day but not enough help for people trying to recover. The media helps normalise the concept of rehabilitation programmes and therapies, on the other hand, it can also be used to create stigmas around the same. The above fallacies of media in representing rehabilitation psychology can be fixed with just one thing, the whole truth.  








References 

  • World Health Organization. (n.d.). Tobacco. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/tobacco 

  • 1,000+ free psychology & brain images - pixabay. (n.d.). https://pixabay.com/images/search/psychology/ 



About the Author 

Parishi Shah, Head of PsyCreative Column

Psychology committee, JDSOLA, NMIMS Mumbai

Parishi Shah is a passionate writer with a deep admiration for Sylvia Plath's works, drawing inspiration from her profound emotional depth and literary style. A second-year psychology student at NMIMS University, Parishi also serves as the head of the PsyCreative Column, where they combine their love for creativity and mental health. Known for her reflective approach to life, she believes in taking one day at a time. Moreover, she believes that a cup of coffee can fix even the gravest of problems!

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