Sensationalize (verb)— present information about (something) in a way that provokes public interest and excitement, at the expense of accuracy.

SOURCES

Crack in the Rearview Mirror: Deconstructing Drug War Mythology (Craig Reinarman and Harry G Levine)

A big part of the war on drugs is based on a huge myth (German Lopez)

ADDICTED MOTHERS: SUBSTANCE ABUSERS OR CHILD ABUSERS? (Livia Gershon)