Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Infodemiology
Date Submitted: Feb 28, 2022
Date Accepted: Apr 29, 2022
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: A Content Analysis of TikToks
ABSTRACT
Background:
Synthetic cannabinoids are a significant public health concern, especially among incarcerated populations due to increased reports of abuse. Recent news reports have highlighted the severe consequence of K2/Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, on the prison population in the United States. Despite regulations against cell phone use, inmates utilize TikTok to post K2/Spice-related content.
Objective:
Hence, this study aimed to characterize TikTok posts associated with the illicit distribution of psychoactive substances (e.g., K2/Spice) purportedly among incarcerated populations.
Methods:
The study collected TikTok videos associated with the #k2spice hashtag and used a data collection approach similar to snowball sampling. Inductive coding was used to conduct content analysis for video characteristics. Videos were manually annotated to generate binary classifications related to use and selling and buying activities associated with K2/Spice. Statistical analysis was used to determine associations between a video’s user engagement and an intent to buy or sell K2/Spice.
Results:
A total of 75 TikTok videos with the hashtag #k2spice were manually coded, with 48% (n=36) identified as displaying the use of, solicitation, or adverse reaction from K2/Spice among prison population users. 44% were in a prison-based setting documenting adverse effects, including possible overdose. Videos with higher user engagement were positively correlated with comments indicating and intent to buy or sell K2/Spice.
Conclusions:
K2/Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, is a drug subject to abuse among prison inmates in the United States, including depictions of its harmful effects being recorded and shared on TikTok. Lack of policy enforcement on TikTok and the need for better access to treatment services within the prison system may be exacerbating substance use among this highly vulnerable population. Minimizing the potential individual harm of this content on those incarcerated should be a priority for social media platforms and the criminal justice system, alike.
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