Addiction, Race/Ethnic Diversity, Social Issues / 28.02.2018
How Does Hip-Hop/Rap Music Influence Molly/Ecstasy Use in African Americans?
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Khary Rigg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
University of South Florida
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Over the past two decades, the demographic profile of MDMA (ecstasy/molly) users has changed. In particular, African American MDMA use has risen in some cities. One possible explanation of this new trend is the drug’s recent popularity (as molly) in hip-hop/rap (HHR) music. Several top rappers endorse the drug as a way to have fun or get women “loose.” There are currently no studies, however, that investigate the extent to which African American MDMA users listen to. hip-hop/rap music or the influence that these pro-MDMA messages have on their use of the drug.
This study used survey and interview data to identify the extent to which hip-hop/rap music is listened to by African American MDMA users and assess the perceived influence of HHR music on their decision to begin using.
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