#studydrugs - Persuasive posting on Instagram
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#studydrugs - Persuasive posting on Instagram. / Petersen, Anne Margit; Petersen, Ida Lund; Poulsen, Camilla ; Nørgaard, Lotte Stig.
In: International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 95, 103100, 2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - #studydrugs - Persuasive posting on Instagram
AU - Petersen, Anne Margit
AU - Petersen, Ida Lund
AU - Poulsen, Camilla
AU - Nørgaard, Lotte Stig
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - BackgroundUnregulated use of pharmaceuticals for cognitive enhancement has become a topic of growing concern, as recent studies indicate a growing prevalence in several countries. Prescription stimulants, also termed Study drugs (SDs) are typically accessed through peers but new studies show that social media platforms may play an important role in the diffusion of these pharmaceuticals. While there is scholarly focus on supply and purchasing practices, other aspects of drugs on social media have received less attention. The aim of this article is to show how SDs are portrayed on Instagram and to discuss some of the implications.MethodsTo find and collect Instagram posts related to SDs we conducted hashtag searches with a number of relevant terms; #studydrugs, #nootropics, #cognitiveenhancers, #smartdrugs, and #modafinil. A total of 563 posts including a selection of post comments, were included in the study and analyzed using the Content Analysis method.ResultsSD-related posts can be categorized into four main types; sales advertisement, personal experience, public information, and motivational quotes. Regardless of its kind, the majority of posts mainly express a positive sentiment towards SDs and SD use. Comments below posts show that people are influenced by SD-related posts and use Instagram for a variety of reasons in relation to their own SD praxisConclusionThis study reveals that Instagram is used to facilitate not only access to SDs, but also a great deal of communication that generally seeks to motivate, promote or encourage the use of pharmaceuticals for enhancement. The positive sentiment towards SDs may play an important role as it provides a false sense of security to current and potential users by posting content that portrays this kind of drug use as the easy and safe solution to social and personal pressures of becoming a successful individual.
AB - BackgroundUnregulated use of pharmaceuticals for cognitive enhancement has become a topic of growing concern, as recent studies indicate a growing prevalence in several countries. Prescription stimulants, also termed Study drugs (SDs) are typically accessed through peers but new studies show that social media platforms may play an important role in the diffusion of these pharmaceuticals. While there is scholarly focus on supply and purchasing practices, other aspects of drugs on social media have received less attention. The aim of this article is to show how SDs are portrayed on Instagram and to discuss some of the implications.MethodsTo find and collect Instagram posts related to SDs we conducted hashtag searches with a number of relevant terms; #studydrugs, #nootropics, #cognitiveenhancers, #smartdrugs, and #modafinil. A total of 563 posts including a selection of post comments, were included in the study and analyzed using the Content Analysis method.ResultsSD-related posts can be categorized into four main types; sales advertisement, personal experience, public information, and motivational quotes. Regardless of its kind, the majority of posts mainly express a positive sentiment towards SDs and SD use. Comments below posts show that people are influenced by SD-related posts and use Instagram for a variety of reasons in relation to their own SD praxisConclusionThis study reveals that Instagram is used to facilitate not only access to SDs, but also a great deal of communication that generally seeks to motivate, promote or encourage the use of pharmaceuticals for enhancement. The positive sentiment towards SDs may play an important role as it provides a false sense of security to current and potential users by posting content that portrays this kind of drug use as the easy and safe solution to social and personal pressures of becoming a successful individual.
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103100
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103100
M3 - Tidsskriftartikel
C2 - 33451861
VL - 95
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
SN - 0955-3959
M1 - 103100
ER -
ID: 254432774