The Business of Drugs (2020) Parents Guide: Is the series OK for kids?

There is no sexual content or nudity depicted in this season. The documentary series focuses exclusively on the economic and logistical framework of global narcotics trafficking. Because the series maintains a professional investigative tone, there are no romantic subplots or gratuitous scenes of a sexual nature.

The series discusses and depicts the violent aspects of the drug trade. This includes descriptions of cartel violence, murder, dismemberment, and the physical degradation caused by drug use. While graphic violence is mostly described rather than shown explicitly (e.g., crime scene photos are blurred or implied), the thematic presence of violence is strong, covering killings, beatings, and territorial conflicts.

Frequent strong language is used throughout, particularly by interviewees. Words like 'f**k,' 'sh*t,' and 'a**hole' are commonly heard without bleeping. The language contributes to the gritty, unvarnished tone of the documentary and the harsh realities it depicts.

The series is entirely focused on illicit substances. It features explicit discussions and visual depictions of drug production, trafficking, and consumption for cocaine, MDMA, heroin, meth, and opioids. Interviewees, including users and dealers, describe drug effects, addiction, and methods of use. Cannabis use on the black market and its social impacts are also explored in detail, though with less emphasis on severe addiction.

Pervasive mature themes include addiction, poverty, corruption, systemic injustice, mental illness, and the global impact of drug trafficking on communities and individuals. The series explores how drug economies exploit vulnerable populations and fuel geopolitical conflicts, presenting a bleak outlook on the human cost of these illegal industries. Detailed accounts of personal ruin due to addiction are common.