There is a mistaken but widespread belief – including among parents – that music is “just music” and that teenagers are not really influenced by the lyrics or messages they consume on a daily basis.
PHOTO by Pixabay
Well, many adults give us the famous false argument: “we were like them and listened to…rock music.”
As if there is any connection between Queen and Albert the NeBuN or Tzanca the Hurricane.
Or another embarrassing argument: “we also drank when we were like them, or worse than them”. The situation is not comparable.
1. The question inevitably arises:
If my son goes to a festival/prom will he be influenced by the music? Will he use alcohol or drugs?
The short answer is: yes, there is an influence. And at 14 years old, you are really influenceable!
Not because “we think so”, but because the scientific research shows so.
What does science say!!!
A large meta-analysis published in 2018 by 8 University of Florida researchers, which included 31 studies and a total of 330,652 participants, concluded that:
“Music has a significant effect on substance use, with both music format and genre contributing significantly.”
(Chen et al., 2018)
This means that influence is not an isolated opinion, but an effect observed systematically in research.
2. Music and identity formation
Adolescence is the period in which identity is built intensively. And music is central to this process – possibly more so than any other entertainment medium (Arnett, 1995).
For many young people, music:
-validate emotions,
-offers life models,
-defines belonging to a group,
-creates cultural landmarks.
The problem arises when most drug references in music are presented in a positive light.
One study shows that these references frequently associate substance use with success, fun, and status, without mentioning negative consequences (Primack et al., 2008).
This shapes more permissive attitudes towards consumption.
And this is objectively a form of influence.
3. Normalization of consumption
Content analyzes show that in some studies approximately 77% of rap songs analyzed contained positive messages about substance use (Primack et al., 2008).
Repeated exposure to such messages can help normalize the behavior.
What you hear constantly becomes familiar. And what becomes familiar begins to seem acceptable – sometimes even aspirational (Slater & Henry, 2013).
This is how the frequent question among young people appears:
“What's wrong with consuming? All the rappers consumed. All the great artists. All the geniuses. And look what a life they had.”
This is a classic form of cognitive distortion: only the glamorized examples are seen, not the consequences—addiction, legal problems, deteriorating health, or premature deaths.
4. Distorted perception of reality
Through repeated exposure, teenagers can come to believe that what is presented in music reflects the general reality. Drugs are frequently associated with:
– financial success,
– wealth,
– sexuality,
– popularity,
– the power.
(Martino et al., 2006)
A recent study confirmed a significant link between time spent listening to hip-hop and increased likelihood of substance use (Delarious & Stewart, 2024).
For vulnerable adolescents – in search of emotional relief, validation or belonging – music that validates or promotes such behaviors can become an additional risk factor (Zuckerman, 2005).
5. A growing phenomenon
Drug references in rap music increased significantly between 1980 and 1997, from 11% to 69% (Herd, 2005).
Recent years have seen an increase in the mention of prescription drug abuse – benzodiazepines, opioids, codeine – in the lyrics of some extremely popular artists.
Finally, we cannot assert a simple direct causal relationship.
But we cannot ignore the overlap between:
– increasing the visibility of these substances in musical culture,
– and the increase in drug consumption among young people, including in Romania.
6. The balanced conclusion
Music does not automatically lead to drug use.
Not every teenager who goes to a festival will use substances.
But science clearly shows that:
– music influences attitudes,
– influences perceived norms,
– contributes to the normalization of certain behaviors,
– and can become a risk factor, especially for vulnerable young people.
To ignore this is to ignore the data.
ps and if the teenager is 13 or 14 and not 18 or 19, the answer is much more obvious!
