British breaking into bad habits

Popularity of show has been blamed for the quadrupling of silver meth usage in UK over the past five years.

The success of the popular television series Breaking Bad seems to have transcended pop culture across the globe. But this time around its implications are not necessarily positive as the show has been accused for the rise in crystal meth across the United Kingdom, reported the British publication, The Telegraph.

According to the news publication parts of the European Union are now being flooded with methamphetamine, which is more commonly referred to as crystal meth.

The highest reports so far have emerged from Germany where there has been a rise in the usage of the Class-A drug by an alarming 51 per cent. What is even more worrying for the authorities is the fact there has also been a surge in the attempts to smuggle the drug into the region by four times.



Earlier this year, the British government released figures that stated that over the course of the past five years the seizures of the drug have quadrupled.

Ellis Cashmore, a professor at the Staffordshire University and an author on media and culture, attributed the rise in this crystal meth culture to the phenomenal success enjoyed by Breaking Bad.

“Although the show does not go out to glamorise the drug, its very inclusion promotes interest in that substance,” said the professor, reported the Telegraph.

He further justified his claims by stating that one of the central characters of the show Jessie, who is portrayed by Aaron Paul, is shown to be an active user of the drug and the fact that Aaron Paul has now established himself as a Hollywood A-list celebrity and sex symbol has indirectly served to increase the people’s interest in the drug.



The show even had an episode where the principal characters attempt to smuggle crystal meth from New Mexico to Prague.

Breaking Bad was one of the major winners at the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards with five wins including Outstanding Drama Series. A spin-off series to the show is already in the works titled, Better Call Saul.

The spin-off focuses on the life of the criminal lawyer, Saul Goodman six years prior to his appearance on Breaking Bad reported TIME. The series has been created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould with the latter also serving as the show runner.



Bob Odenkirk will be seen reviving his character as the lawyer and, according to Vince Gilligan, the new show will follow the same hour-long drama format, reported Entertainment Weekly.

Better Call Saul, which is slated to premiere in February 2015, has already been renewed for a second season with the first season comprising of 10 episodes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2014.

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