Dataset Information

Rolling and scrolling: The portrayal of marijuana cigars (blunts) on YouTube.

ABSTRACT: Background:Blunts are partially or fully hollowed-out cigars or cigarillos that are filled with marijuana. Despite the high prevalence of blunt use, very few studies assess this specific method of cannabis administration. YouTube, a popular video-sharing website, has the potential to provide insights into blunt use. Methods:The purpose of this study was to examine the content of YouTube videos that discuss blunts. A sample of 41 videos was coded for content. Results:The 41 videos had a total of 27,579,636 views. Most of the individuals in the videos were male (85%) and many appeared to be White (80%) and under the age of 25 (46%). Only 34% of the videos had an age restriction. The majority of messages in the videos promoted blunt use (93%) and showed at least one person rolling (76%) and/or smoking (66%) a blunt. The videos mainly consisted of introductions to blunt use (76%) and tips and personal experiences with blunt use (73%). Conclusions:YouTube videos on blunt use are readily available and primarily promote the use of blunts. Future research should continue to monitor YouTube content and develop videos on social media platforms that inform consumers of the health effects associated with blunt use.

SUBMITTER: Montgomery L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5991612 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Rolling and scrolling: The portrayal of marijuana cigars (blunts) on YouTube.

Montgomery LaTrice L Yockey Andrew A

Journal of substance use 20180302 4

<h4>Background</h4>Blunts are partially or fully hollowed-out cigars or cigarillos that are filled with marijuana. Despite the high prevalence of blunt use, very few studies assess this specific method of cannabis administration. YouTube, a popular video-sharing website, has the potential to provide insights into blunt use.<h4>Methods</h4>The purpose of this study was to examine the content of YouTube videos that discuss blunts. A sample of 41 videos was coded for content.<h4>Results</h4>The 41 ...[more]

PMID: 29887756

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Project description:IntroductionFor cigars sold individually without packaging, including many premium cigars, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed that retailers display six warning statements on a sign at the point-of-sale (POS).Aims and methodsTo examine the potential effectiveness of cigar warning signs, we conducted a between-subjects online experiment. Participants were 809 U.S. adults who reported using cigars (78% ever large cigar use, 49% past 30-day large cigar use) recruited from a probability-based panel. Participants viewed an image of a cigar store countertop with randomization to one of four conditions: (1) no warning sign, (2) a sign with six FDA proposed text-only warnings, (3) a sign with six novel text-only warnings, or (4) a sign with six novel text + image warnings. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) models and post hoc Tukey tests to examine the results.ResultsThe FDA-proposed text-only warning sign was perceived as less effective in discouraging participants from smoking cigars (M: 3.26, SD: 1.39; scale range: 1-5, where five indicates higher discouragement) compared with the novel text-only warning sign (M = 3.38, SD = 1.40) and the novel text + image warning sign (M = 3.65, SD = 1.34). The novel text + image warning sign increased discouragement from smoking cigars versus the FDA-proposed text-only warning sign (p = .02) and decreased the perceived satisfaction of smoking cigars versus no warning sign (p = .04). In a sensitivity analysis, the novel text + image warning sign decreased the perceived satisfaction of smoking cigars (p = .01), decreased cigar purchase intentions (p = .03), decreased the urge to smoke (p = .03), and increased discouragement from smoking cigars (p = .006) compared with all other study conditions.ConclusionsResults provide new evidence that policymakers, such as the FDA, could use when proposing POS warning signs for cigars.ImplicationsThe US FDA proposed that retailers display a warning sign at the POS for cigars sold individually without packaging. We conducted an online experiment concerning the potential effectiveness of this regulatory policy with people who use cigars recruited from a probability-based panel. Results provide the first evidence that the FDA-proposed text-only warning sign was perceived as less effective than other types of warning signs and that adding images could potentially increase the effectiveness of warning signs. These findings are particularly relevant for premium cigars, which are often sold individually in brick-and-mortar retail settings.

Dataset Information

Rolling and scrolling: The portrayal of marijuana cigars (blunts) on YouTube.

Publications

Rolling and scrolling: The portrayal of marijuana cigars (blunts) on YouTube.

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