Intersection of the Web-Based Vaping Narrative With COVID-19: Topic Modeling Study

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 outbreak was designated a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The relationship between vaping and contracting COVID-19 is unclear, and information on the internet is conflicting. There is some scientific evidence that vaping cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient in cannabis that is obtained from the hemp plant, or other substances is associated with more severe manifestations of COVID-19. However, there is also inaccurate information that vaping can aid COVID-19 treatment, as well as expert opinion that CBD, possibly administered through vaping, can mitigate COVID-19 symptoms. Thus, it is necessary to study the spread of inaccurate information to better understand how to promote scientific knowledge and curb inaccurate information, which is critical to the health of vapers. Inaccurate information about vaping and COVID-19 may affect COVID-19 treatment outcomes. Objective Using structural topic modeling, we aimed to map temporal trends in the web-based vaping narrative (a large data set comprising web-based vaping chatter from several sources) to indicate how the narrative changed from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We obtained data using a textual query that scanned a data pool of approximately 200,000 different domains (4,027,172 documents and 361,100,284 words) such as public internet forums, blogs, and social media, from August 1, 2019, to April 21, 2020. We then used structural topic modeling to understand changes in word prevalence and semantic structures within topics around vaping before and after December 31, 2019, when COVID-19 was reported to the World Health Organization. Results Broadly, the web-based vaping narrative can be organized into the following groups or archetypes: harms from vaping; Vaping Regulation; Vaping as Harm Reduction or Treatment; and Vaping Lifestyle. Three archetypes were observed prior to the emergence of COVID-19; however, four archetypes were identified post–COVID-19 (Vaping as Harm Reduction or Treatment was the additional archetype). A topic related to CBD product preference emerged after COVID-19 was first reported, which may be related to the use of CBD by vapers as a COVID-19 treatment. Conclusions Our main finding is the emergence of a vape-administered CBD treatment narrative around COVID-19 when comparing the web-based vaping narratives before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results are key to understanding how vapers respond to inaccurate information about COVID-19, optimizing treatment of vapers who contract COVID-19, and possibly minimizing instances of inaccurate information. The findings have implications for the management of COVID-19 among vapers and the monitoring of web-based content pertinent to tobacco to develop targeted interventions to manage COVID-19 among vapers.

Opportunities, Challenges and Pitfalls of Using Cannabidiol as an Adjuvant Drug in COVID-19

“…Within the group of papers dealing with the literature, seven publications consider the potential use of CBD for the treatment of COVID-19 mainly due to its potent anti-inflammatory activity [ 14 , 15 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. However, as suggested by another three authors, there is a lack of high-quality studies dedicated to the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD [ 61 , 62 ] or to its effects on the central nervous system (e.g., anxiety or neurological complications) [ 63 ].…”

“…Two authors warn that the anti-inflammatory action of CBD might exert a potential detrimental effect on the immune system even leading to enhancement of viral infections [ 64 , 65 ]. One should also consider that vaping CBD was associated with severe COVID-19 problems [ 57 ] and not overlook the unclear impact of “over-the-counter” CBD on the immunity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 62 ]. Due to the lack of rigorous legal regulations, CBD is indeed commonly used as over-the-counter product, often of unapproved and unknown composition [ 51 , 54 , 55 ].…”

“…Numerous preclinical findings ( Table 1 ) and reviews regarding the potential use of CBD in COVID-19 treatment [ 14 , 15 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ] suggest that CBD has beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, which can be expected to improve the systemic symptoms that are characteristic of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unfortunately, a comparison of the results of preclinical ( Table 1 ) and clinical ( Table 2 ) studies demonstrates that the favorable preclinical properties may not translate into the clinical setting (or that the appropriate clinical studies have not been conducted; see also reviews [ 58 , 61 , 62 ]).…”

“…The relatively high bioavailability level of ~30% (whereas oral administration leads to a value of 6% only [ 172 ]) is another argument in favor of this route of administration. However, the vaping of cannabis products (including CBD) may lead to acute pulmonary toxicity [ 57 , 173 ], casting some doubt on the suitability of this method of administration; it is unclear as to whether similar problems would occur if pure CBD was used instead. Since Epidiolex ® has been administered effectively as an oromucosal spray ( Table 2 ), the use of a mouthwash with CBD-rich extracts might represent an interesting strategy to lower ACE2 topically [ 67 ].…”

Vaping discussion in the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study using Twitter data

“…However, social media-based research studying the public discourse on vaping in the COVID-19 pandemic has been scant. Two studies focusing on both vaping and COVID-19 analyzed social media data before the end of April, 2020 [ 17 , 18 ]. WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.…”