Trending: Social media analysis to monitor cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use
June 2015
Staff:
Dr Monica Barratt, NDARC
Other investigators:
Associate Professor Raminta Daniulaityte, Wright State University, Ohio, United States
Professor Edward W. Boyer, University of Massachusetts Medical School, United States
Professor Robert G. Carlson, Wright State University, Ohio, United States
Associate Professor Silvia Martins, Columbia University, New York, United States
Assistant Professor Ramzi W. Nahhas, Wright State University, Ohio, United States
Professor Amit Sheth, Wright State University, Ohio, United States
Professor Krishnaprasad Thirunarayan, Wright State University, Ohio, United States
Project description:
Cannabis remains one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the United States, and current epidemiological studies indicate broadening acceptability. This aim of this project is to decrease the burden of psychoactive substance use in the US.
The three-year study will develop and deploy eDrugTrends, an innovative platform for semi-automated processing of social media data, to track trends in cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use, identify opinion leaders and assess differences across US regions with varying cannabis legalization policies.
Social media data sources will include Twitter and at least five web forums. The study will integrate quantitative and qualitative methods, and will employ targeted, anonymous surveys on web forums to complement and triangulate analysis of user-generated content.
