Characterizing Blunt Use Among Twitter Users: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Use Patterns and Characteristics

Young adult Twitter users are exposed to and often participate in tweets that promote risky behaviors, such as blunt use. Blunts are hollowed out cigars or cigarillos that are filled with marijuana.

The current study was designed to determine the use patterns and characteristics of African American, Hispanic and White young adult Twitter users who reported past month blunt use.

Young adults (N = 753, 74% male) who reported past month blunt use were recruited via Twitter to participate in a brief anonymous online survey about their blunt use.

Findings revealed that African American young adults initiated blunt smoking at an earlier age (14.8 years), reported more days of blunt smoking in the past month (23.2 days) and smoked more blunts in the past month (27.2 blunts) than their Hispanic (16.5 years, 19.7 days, and 15.4 blunts) and White (18.1 years, 15.8 days, and 22.2 blunts) counterparts, p <.01. African American young adults were more likely than their White counterparts to report physical craving as an obstacle to quitting blunt smoking. Several racial/ethnic differences were also found on attitudes about blunt use and reasons for initiating and continuing to smoke blunts.

Findings suggest that blunt use patterns and attitudes about blunt use vary by race/ethnicity. Understanding racial/ethnic differences in blunt use patterns and characteristics offers opportunities to tailor future interventions and enhance outcomes among African American, Hispanic and White young adults.