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Brian A. Primack, EdM, MD; Madeline A. Dalton, PhD; Mary V. Carroll, BA; Aaron A. Agarwal, BS; Michael J. Fine, MSc, MD

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(2):169-175.

Objective  To perform a comprehensive content analysis of substance use in contemporary popular music.

Design  We analyzed the 279 most popular songs of 2005 according to Billboard magazine. Two coders working independently used a standardized data collection instrument to code portrayals of substance use.

Outcome Measures  Presence and explicit use of substances and motivations for, associations with, and consequences of substance use.

Results  Of the 279 songs, 93 (33.3%) portrayed substance use, with an average of 35.2 substance references per song-hour. Portrayal of substance use varied significantly (P < .001) by genre, with 1 or more references in 3 of 35 pop songs (9%), 9 of 66 rock songs (14%), 11 of 55 R & B/hip-hop songs (20%), 22 of 61 country songs (36%), and 48 of 62 rap songs (77%). While only 2.9% of the 279 songs portrayed tobacco use, 23.7% depicted alcohol use, 13.6% depicted marijuana use, and 11.5% depicted other or unspecified substance use. In the 93 songs with substance use, it was most often motivated by peer/social pressure (45 [48%]) or sex (28 [30%]); use was commonly associated with partying (50 [54%]), sex (43 [46%]), violence (27 [29%]), and/or humor (22 [24%]). Only 4 songs (4%) contained explicit antiuse messages, and none portrayed substance refusal. Most songs with substance use (63 [68%]) portrayed more positive than negative consequences; these positive consequences were most commonly social, sexual, financial, or emotional.

Conclusions  The average adolescent is exposed to approximately 84 references to explicit substance use daily in popular songs, and this exposure varies widely by musical genre. The substance use depicted in popular music is frequently motivated by peer acceptance and sex, and it has highly positive associations and consequences.

Author Affiliations: Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (Drs Primack and Fine, Ms Carroll, and Mr Agarwal), Center for Research on Health Care (Drs Primack and Fine), and Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics (Dr Primack), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Pediatrics and Community Health Research Program, Hood Center for Children and Families, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire (Dr Dalton); and Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh (Dr Fine).

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