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Related Experiment Videos

#studydrugs-Persuasive posting on Instagram.

Margit Anne Petersen1, Ida Lund Petersen2, Camilla Poulsen2

  • 1Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark.

The International Journal on Drug Policy
|January 16, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Social media platforms like Instagram are increasingly used to promote the unregulated use of study drugs (SDs) for cognitive enhancement. These platforms often portray SD use positively, creating a false sense of security for users.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Unregulated use of pharmaceuticals for cognitive enhancement is a growing concern.
  • Prescription stimulants, or study drugs (SDs), are increasingly accessed via social media.
  • Limited research exists on how SDs are portrayed on social media platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the portrayal of study drugs (SDs) on Instagram.
  • To discuss the implications of SDs being depicted on social media.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted hashtag searches on Instagram using terms like #studydrugs, #nootropics, and #smartdrugs.
  • Analyzed 563 posts and associated comments using Content Analysis.
  • Categorized posts into sales advertisements, personal experiences, public information, and motivational quotes.
Keywords:
Cognitive enhancementDrug policyPharmaceuticalizationPrescription stimulantsSocial mediaStudy drugs

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Main Results:

  • The majority of study drug (SD)-related posts on Instagram exhibit a positive sentiment.
  • Posts are categorized into sales, personal experiences, information, and motivational content.
  • User comments indicate influence from these posts, with Instagram used for various reasons related to SD use.

Conclusions:

  • Instagram facilitates both access to and communication surrounding study drugs (SDs).
  • Positive portrayals of SDs on Instagram may foster a false sense of security.
  • Social media platforms contribute to the motivation and promotion of pharmaceutical cognitive enhancement.