Abstract
A meta-analysis of the REITOX reports of the EU member states, Bulgaria, Romania and Norway between the years 1996 and 2005 has shown that the picture of illicit drugs in the European media significantly differs between the new member states and the EU 15 states. The hypothesis derived about the diminishing count of criminal aspects of drug issues in the contents of the media, which is typical for the EU 15 states in the 1990s and the new member states after the year 2000, was tested on articles dedicated to drug issues in the observed period in MF DNES (Czech Republic, representing the new member states) and The Times (United Kingdom, representing the EU15).
The hypothesis was proved, as was its reasoning, according to which the media picture of illicit drug use develops as a result of the work of the non-governmental institutions which are active in the field. This result is in accordance with the sociology of news production presented in the paper.