Perhaps the most relevant topic I can think of that spans a similar number of ranges as prion diseases is media violence. From comic books to television to movies to video games, all popular media has had its share of negative publicity related to violence, sex, language, and poor behavior in general. Violence has been the most prominent, and is still being used today to further the agendas of political entities and other organizations. Media violence has been used to support gun control, media censorship, and even laws governing everyday life. Video games in particular, especially the Wii, have brought this issue up in recent months with their greater emphasis on interaction with a character as opposed to TV or movies where the viewer of the violence is just that: a viewer of violence rather than a participant.

Media violence has prompted public officials to create social programs to keep kids away from these "bad" influences (and for other purposes), as well as off the streets and away from gangs, where they believe those affected kids could act on their violent tendencies. Overall, though, it doesn't seem to cover quite as many areas as prion diseases.