Social Networks, Drug Abuse, and HIV Transmission: NIDA Research Monograph 151

A model for HIV transmission in homosexual populations is proposed taking into consideration different preventive attitudes, blood screening and effects of social networks. The equilibrium points of the system are calculated with and without blood screening and their stabilities are analyzed. By using these analytical results and numerical simulations, some evolving aspects of the epidemic are discussed.

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The Contribution of Online Social Networks for Drug Abuse Treatment Referral: a Pilot Study

Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth ◽

10.29086/jisfteh.7.e4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Diogo Barbosa ◽

Luciana Tricai Cavalini ◽

Nádia Cristina Pinheiro Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Online Social Networks ◽

Drug Users ◽

Psychoactive Drug ◽

Drug Abuse Treatment ◽

Psychoactive Drugs ◽

Healthcare Centre ◽

Abuse Treatment

Background: The consumption of psychoactive drugs is growing in Brazil, as well as the access of social networks. This study is a preliminary short report about the contribution of online social networks for drug abuse treatment. The study aimed to evaluate the role of an online social network to engage psychoactive drug users in treatment. Methods: A descriptive study was undertaken from July to September 2015. The study population were psychoactive drugs users who accessed voluntarily the webpage “Stay Free of Drugs” (SFD) from the social network Facebook. Results: A total of 25 psychoactive drug users were enrolled in the study, and 16 (64%) accessed a healthcare centre seeking treatment. The average from the users’ online contact to their visit to the healthcare centre was 8.4 days. Half of the participants were exclusive alcohol users and accessed the webpage at night (65%). Conclusions: The use of a social network showed a potential importance in referring drug users to treatment, also acting as health education strategy.

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Social Capital and Social Networks of Hidden Drug Abuse in Hong Kong

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176231 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6231 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gloria Hongyee Chan ◽

T. Wing Lo ◽

Gabriel Kwun-Wa Lee ◽

Cherry Hau-Lin Tam

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Social Networks ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Large Scale ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Drug Abusers ◽

Linking Social Capital ◽

Local Research

Owing to the increasing prevalence of hidden drug abuse in Hong Kong, yet scarce relevant current local research, this study seeks to carry out an in-depth investigation into the experience of hidden drug abusers, paying particular attention to their relevance to social capital and social networks. Seventy-three abusers attending drug treatment programs were interviewed, and a thematic analysis was performed. The results indicate hidden drug abuse is popular in Hong Kong. Apart from the decline of public, large-scale discos and the change of the types of drugs abused to date, one important contributing factor is the drug supply and transaction networks, which are extensive and multilocused, but secretive, with high closure levels. This kind of network is supported by bonding, bridging, and linking social capital as well as by providing convenient supply modes and offering drug abusers psychological comfort and safety. These factors encourage the hidden drug abuse to prevail and allow drug abusers to remain unidentifiable.

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The role of social networks in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse ◽

10.3109/00952990.2013.875553 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 179-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Amy A. Mericle

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Alcohol And Drug Abuse

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SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY AMONG INJECTABLE DRUG USERS IN KATHMANDU VALLEY

Journal of Nepal Medical Association ◽

10.31729/jnma.730 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 41 (141) ◽

pp. 235-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Saroj Prasad Ojha ◽

A Pokharel ◽

R P Aacharya ◽

K R Pandey ◽

C L Bhusal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Drug Users ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Legal Aspects ◽

Intravenous Drug ◽

Intravenous Drug Abuse ◽

Kathmandu Valley ◽

Psychoactive Substance ◽

Brown Sugar ◽

Injectable Drug

On the background of ever increasing HIV transmission in our community throughvarious routes, the psychosocial factors related with intravenous drug abuse has becomenecessary to be studied. Aim of the study was to assess the Socio-psychological factorsthat influence people to use drugs, especially to use Injectable drugs. We enrolled asample of 393 Intravenous drug users, all male, in the Kathmandu Valley. Participantswere administered a semi structured proforma to assess the psychosocial issues relatedwith the drug intravenous drug abuse. Mean age of the sample was 27.76+ 4.86 years.Majority were single, unemployed, Hindu and by caste Newars, with education morethan high school (SLC or more). The first psychoactive substance use by most of themwas cannabis. The most frequently used psychoactive substance was injectionBuprenorphine (Tidigesic), which was followed by mixture of various substances(opiates, benzodiazepines, antihistamines) and Diacetyl morphine (Brown sugar).Factors associated with the start of the drugs were for enjoyment, friend’s pressureand to alleviate mental tension. Many accepted Injectable drug use contributing toproblems in mental, marital, social, economic and legal aspects of their life. Despiteknowing the harms caused by the drugs majority persist on its use. A needle exchangeprogramme has been viewed positively by many.Key words: buprenorphin, needle sharing, needle replacement, HIV transmission.

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Drug Abuse and HIV Transmission in Iran—Responding to the Public Health Challenges

Public Health Aspects of HIV/AIDS in Low and Middle Income Countries ◽

10.1007/978-0-387-72711-0_26 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 583-599 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Azarakhsh Mokri ◽

Richard Schottenfeld

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

The Public ◽

Public Health Challenges

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The family's role as a support network for people living with HIV/AIDS: a review of Brazilian research into the theme

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva ◽

10.1590/1413-81232015204.17932013 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 1109-1118 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Leonara Maria Souza da Silva ◽

Jeane Saskya Campos Tavares

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Support Network ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Adherence To Treatment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Family ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

The study of HIV transmission and the implementation of AIDS prevention actions recognize the importance of social networks in the transmission of the disease, the adherence to treatment and the quality of life of those infected. For this relevance there was a review of articles on social support networks to people living with HIV /AIDS available in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) were published in Brazil between 2002 and 2012. In this study 31 articles were used from journals covering the following áreas: Nursing (n = 15), Psychology (n = 6) and Science Health / Biomedica (n = 6), were included, which some principal authors were affiliated to higher education public institutions (n = 17). In relation to the methodology used, priority wasgiven to conducting: qualitative research (n = 18), cross-sectional studies (n = 19) and studies that involved talking to people living with HIV/AIDS (n = 13). Particular importance was placed on analytic categories related to: adherence to treatment (n = 6), the family (n = 4), vulnerability (n = 3) and support from social networks (n = 5). Within this paper we argue for more investments into studies that focus on the family, carers and their households, as well as deepening the theoretical study of the themes discussed and the use of developed theories for the analysis of Social Networks.

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