Drug Use and Social Media: An Exploration and Qualitative Analysis of Online Drug Forums and Social Media Sites
Determining individuals’ subjective experiences with drugs of abuse, including alcohol, remains largely a challenge. Since the creation of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter in the 2000s, social media has rapidly emerged as a novel venue for individuals to share their experiences with various drugs of abuse, perceptions on drug and alcohol addiction, as well as their experiences with addiction treatment and therapy in general, including brief interventions. Studies have shown that opiates, anabolic steroids, recalled drugs, synthetic cannabinoids, and other drugs of abuse are widely available for purchase on the Internet and less than 10% of these “online pharmacies” require a prescription for dispensing these drugs. Social media is thus not only an effective means for sharing experiences and opinions about drugs, but also for learning about them and potentially acquiring them. In addition to research about the relationship between social media and drug use, observational studies have been conducted regarding the general nature of Internet discussions about drugs of abuse. Due to the vast availability of drug-related information on the Internet, social media represents an important and relatively untapped resource that researchers can utilise to gain a better understanding of the implications, consequences, and treatment of substance and alcohol use.
Additionally, new forms of therapy for drug addiction are being administered via the Internet. Studies examining the efficacy and effectiveness of online brief interventions, or eBIs, for alcohol misuse have been published. Brief interventions are defined as structured advice, feedback, and short psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at preventing the worsening of harmful – but non-clinically-dependent – alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that eBIs are effective in reducing problem drinking, although this has been challenged by other studies. As these studies are mostly quantitative, it may be warranted to complement the examination of the efficacy of eBIs through the use of qualitative methods to elucidate the reasons for these contradictory data and to better understand the nuanced role that online screening and eBIs play in the decision-making of harmful and hazardous drinkers.
In Phase 1 of the project, existing social media platforms will be used to examine perceptions and patterns of drug and alcohol use and abuse through observational data collection. Conversations, comments, and blog posts on public social media websites will be qualitatively assessed and analysed, looking at a variety of topics related to drug and alcohol use and interventions addressing problematic drug and alcohol use.
In Phase 2 of the project, participants will be recruited to answer brief questions following informed consent. These questions will collect information on demographics, use of drug(s) of abuse, patterns of drug use, social media involvement, and subjective experiences.
Objective 1: To observationally and qualitatively examine the content, types, forum, and popularity of discourse related to drugs of abuse on social media.
Objective 2: To observationally and qualitatively examine individuals’ self-reported subjective experiences with specific drugs of abuse including synthetic cannabinoids (SPICE products).
Objective 3: To observationally and qualitatively examine individuals’ self-reported experiences with drug/alcohol treatment programs including peer-based self-help groups, self-management programs and brief interventions delivered via social media.
Objective 4: To examine the characteristics of drug/alcohol users participating in drug/alcohol-related discussions on social media in terms of demographics.