scholarly journals Exploring Substance Use Tweets of Youth in the United States: Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/16191 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e16191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin C Stevens ◽  
Bridgette M Brawner ◽  
Elissa Kranzler ◽  
Salvatore Giorgi ◽  
Elizabeth Lazarus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Polysubstance Use ◽  
Keywords And Phrases ◽  
And Behaviors

Background Substance use by youth remains a significant public health concern. Social media provides the opportunity to discuss and display substance use–related beliefs and behaviors, suggesting that the act of posting drug-related content, or viewing posted content, may influence substance use in youth. This aligns with empirically supported theories, which posit that behavior is influenced by perceptions of normative behavior. Nevertheless, few studies have explored the content of posts by youth related to substance use. Objective This study aimed to identify the beliefs and behaviors of youth related to substance use by characterizing the content of youths’ drug-related tweets. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach, we sampled drug-relevant tweets and qualitatively examined their content. Methods We used natural language processing to determine the frequency of drug-related words in public tweets (from 2011 to 2015) among youth Twitter users geolocated to Pennsylvania. We limited our sample by age (13-24 years), yielding approximately 23 million tweets from 20,112 users. We developed a list of drug-related keywords and phrases and selected a random sample of tweets with the most commonly used keywords to identify themes (n=249). Results We identified two broad classes of emergent themes: functional themes and relational themes. Functional themes included posts that explicated a function of drugs in one’s life, with subthemes indicative of pride, longing, coping, and reminiscing as they relate to drug use and effects. Relational themes emphasized a relational nature of substance use, capturing substance use as a part of social relationships, with subthemes indicative of drug-related identity and companionship. We also identified topical areas in tweets related to drug use, including reference to polysubstance use, pop culture, and antidrug content. Across the tweets, the themes of pride (63/249, 25.3%) and longing (39/249, 15.7%) were the most popular. Most tweets that expressed pride (46/63, 73%) were explicitly related to marijuana. Nearly half of the tweets on coping (17/36, 47%) were related to prescription drugs. Very few of the tweets contained antidrug content (9/249, 3.6%). Conclusions Data integration indicates that drugs are typically discussed in a positive manner, with content largely reflective of functional and relational patterns of use. The dissemination of this information, coupled with the relative absence of antidrug content, may influence youth such that they perceive drug use as normative and justified. Strategies to address the underlying causes of drug use (eg, coping with stressors) and engage antidrug messaging on social media may reduce normative perceptions and associated behaviors among youth. The findings of this study warrant research to further examine the effects of this content on beliefs and behaviors and to identify ways to leverage social media to decrease substance use in this population.

Social Media Use and Substance Use During Emerging Adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 364-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine McCauley Ohannessian ◽  
Anna Vannucci ◽  
Kaitlin M. Flannery ◽  
Sarosh Khan
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Problematic Alcohol Use

This study examined the relationship between daily time spent using social media and substance use in a national sample of 563 emerging adults from the United States (18- to 22-year-olds, 50% female, 63% non-Hispanic White). Results revealed that males reported more social media use and more substance use in comparison to females. In addition, greater daily social media use was related to more alcohol consumption, more problematic alcohol use, and more frequent drug use. A significant gender × social media use interaction was also observed for drug use, revealing that greater daily social media use was significantly related to more frequent drug use for females but not for males. Results from this study emphasize the importance of considering different types of social media in relation to substance use and abuse during emerging adulthood and the need to examine these relations by gender.

scholarly journals Scaling Up Research on Drug Abuse and Addiction Through Social Media Big Data (Preprint)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunny Jung Kim ◽  
Lisa A Marsch ◽  
Jeffrey T Hancock ◽  
Amarendra K Das
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Prescription Drug Abuse ◽  
Problematic Drug ◽  
Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND Substance use–related communication for drug use promotion and its prevention is widely prevalent on social media. Social media big data involve naturally occurring communication phenomena that are observable through social media platforms, which can be used in computational or scalable solutions to generate data-driven inferences. Despite the promising potential to utilize social media big data to monitor and treat substance use problems, the characteristics, mechanisms, and outcomes of substance use–related communications on social media are largely unknown. Understanding these aspects can help researchers effectively leverage social media big data and platforms for observation and health communication outreach for people with substance use problems. OBJECTIVE The objective of this critical review was to determine how social media big data can be used to understand communication and behavioral patterns of problematic use of prescription drugs. We elaborate on theoretical applications, ethical challenges and methodological considerations when using social media big data for research on drug abuse and addiction. Based on a critical review process, we propose a typology with key initiatives to address the knowledge gap in the use of social media for research on prescription drug abuse and addiction. METHODS First, we provided a narrative summary of the literature on drug use–related communication on social media. We also examined ethical considerations in the research processes of (1) social media big data mining, (2) subgroup or follow-up investigation, and (3) dissemination of social media data-driven findings. To develop a critical review-based typology, we searched the PubMed database and the entire e-collection theme of “infodemiology and infoveillance” in the Journal of Medical Internet Research / JMIR Publications. Studies that met our inclusion criteria (eg, use of social media data concerning non-medical use of prescription drugs, data informatics-driven findings) were reviewed for knowledge synthesis. User characteristics, communication characteristics, mechanisms and predictors of such communications, and the psychological and behavioral outcomes of social media use for problematic drug use–related communications are the dimensions of our typology. In addition to ethical practices and considerations, we also reviewed the methodological and computational approaches used in each study to develop our typology. RESULTS We developed a typology to better understand non-medical, problematic use of prescription drugs through the lens of social media big data. Highly relevant studies that met our inclusion criteria were reviewed for knowledge synthesis. The characteristics of users who shared problematic substance use–related communications on social media were reported by general group terms, such as adolescents, Twitter users, and Instagram users. All reviewed studies examined the communication characteristics, such as linguistic properties, and social networks of problematic drug use–related communications on social media. The mechanisms and predictors of such social media communications were not directly examined or empirically identified in the reviewed studies. The psychological or behavioral consequence (eg, increased behavioral intention for mimicking risky health behaviors) of engaging with and being exposed to social media communications regarding problematic drug use was another area of research that has been understudied. CONCLUSIONS We offer theoretical applications, ethical considerations, and empirical evidence within the scope of social media communication and prescription drug abuse and addiction. Our critical review suggests that social media big data can be a tremendous resource to understand, monitor and intervene on drug abuse and addiction problems.

scholarly journals Prescription Opioid Related Misuse, Harms, Diversion and Interventions in Canada: A Review

2012 ◽  
Vol 3S;15 (3S;7) ◽  
pp. ES191-ES203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedikt Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Substance Use Treatment ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Polysubstance Use ◽  
The Us ◽  
Related Mortality

Background: The non-medical use of and harms related to prescription opioid (PO) analgesics – key medications to treat severe and chronic pain - are an emerging public health concern globally. PO use is proportionally highest in North America, where, consequently, nonmedical PO use (NMPOU) and morbidity/mortality are high and well documented for the United States. Canada is the country with the second highest PO consumption rate in the world – with steeper recent increases in PO use than the US - mainly driven by substantial increases in the use of strong opioids (e.g., oxycodone). Indications and select data of NMPOU and PO-related morbidity and mortality have emerged in recent years, yet a systematic and comprehensive collection of relevant data to characterize the phenomenon in Canada does not exist. Objectives: This paper comprehensively reviews the available data in Canada regarding NMPOU, and PO-related harms, diversion, and interventions, and discusses implications for interventions and policy. Study Design: Narrative literature/data review. Setting: Canada. Methods: Publicly available data and information – either from journal publications, “grey literature” (e.g., government/technical reports) or Web sites reporting relevant data on Canada - were searched and narratively reviewed. Results: Indicators on NMPOU and PO-related harms in Canada are highly fragmented, and not nearly as systematic and comprehensive as they are in the US; virtually no national statistics/data are collected. Available –largely provincial/local - data indicate that PO misuse is increasingly common in key populations, including general adult and student populations, street-drug users, First Nations/Aboriginal Peoples, and correctional populations. Co-morbidities – e.g., pain, mental health problems, polysubstance use – among people reporting NMPOU appear to be high. Substance use treatment admissions for those with problematic PO use have risen substantially where reported. Opioid-related mortality (and oxycodone-related mortality, specifically) have increased considerably in Ontario where relevant data from the mid-1990s onward have been examined. In Canadian populations reporting NMPOU, sourcing of POs occurs through various diversion routes, including from family/friends, “double-doctoring,” or street drug markets. In addition, losses and theft/robberies from pharmacies and licensed medications dealers appear to be on the rise. Finally, interventions (i.e., provincial PO guidelines, prescription monitoring programs, substance use treatment services) are fragmented and inconsistently applied throughout the country, and currently fail to effectively address the growing problem of NMPOU and PO-related harms across Canada. Limitations: This review did not rely on systematic review methodologies. Conclusion: Corresponding to its increasing and high overall PO consumption levels, NMPOU and POrelated harms in Canada are high based on available data, and likely now constitute the third highest level of substance use burden of disease (after alcohol and tobacco). The data and monitoring situation in Canada regarding NMPOU and PO-related harms are fragmented, un-systematic, and insufficient. While major and concerted policy initiatives – primarily from the federal level - are absent to date, these urgently require vastly improved national data indicators and monitoring in order to allow for and evaluate evidence-based interventions on this urgent and extensive public health problem. Key words: Prescription opioids, pain, non-medical use, epidemiology, public health, morbidity, mortality, treatment, policy, Canada

Gangs, Drug Use, and Drug Selling in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Sanders
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Crystal Methamphetamine ◽  
Polysubstance Use ◽  
Drug Selling

Gangs and drugs are two major criminological issues that come together in the United States. On the one hand, gang members use more drugs than non-gang youth, so much so that gang membership itself is an indicator that an individual will have a significant drug use profile. Compared with non-gang youth, gang members also begin to use drugs at earlier ages, use a greater variety of drugs, use them with greater frequency, and participate in other risk behaviors (e.g., violence, unsafe sexual behaviors) while intoxicated. Alcohol and marijuana feature prominently within the drug use repertoires of gang members, and the latter is considered normalized within gang cultures. Gang members also use other “hard” drugs, such as crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and heroin, despite the fact that the use of such drugs is stigmatized among them. Gang membership is also characterized by polysubstance use—the simultaneous or sequential use of a variety of drugs, as well as nonmedical prescription drug misuse. As a result, gang members are at great risk of many negative social and health consequences related to drug use. On the other hand, gang members sell drugs. A wealth of academic data contradicts the legal and public perceptions about this relationship. First, a commonly held view is that gangs control a majority of the sales of illegal drugs within any one area. However, this clashes with research specifically on gangs, which reveals that few members within any one gang sell drugs and that few gangs are specifically focused on selling drugs. Another area where academic research conflicts with widely held perceptions is the idea that drug selling is a lucrative endeavor for gang members. While the public and law enforcement agencies may believe gang members are making significant amounts of money selling drugs, research indicates that the majority of gang members who do sell drugs do not appear to earn significantly more money than they could earn working the same number of hours at a job paying minimum wage. Such findings further argue that such amounts hardly seem worth the risk given the large numbers of gang members killed or imprisoned in relation to selling drugs.

Clinical Management of Drug Use Disorders

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Thompson ◽  
Timothy Ando ◽  
James Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Substance Dependence ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Drug Use Disorders ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Significant Public Health

Despite mammoth efforts toward the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders in the United States over the past 30 years, they remain a significant public health concern and an all-too-common comorbidity among people with other forms of mental illness. Continued research into genetics, pharmacotherapies, psychotherapies, and epidemiology for substance use disorders results in huge amounts of new information for clinicians to assimilate each year. This review summarizes current diagnostic and categorical standards in substance use disorders, epidemiology, genetic and physiologic factors in addiction for each class, clinically relevant laboratory testing, evidence-based treatments, and prognostic considerations in substance use disorders. Specifically, sections cover cannabinoids, hallucinogens, opioids, sedatives, and stimulants. Key words: benzodiazepines, cannabis, drug dependence, hallucinogens, MDMA, substance abuse, substance dependence, synthetic cannabinoids 

scholarly journals Use of Population-Based Surveys for Estimating the Population Size of Persons Who Inject Drugs in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (Supplement_5) ◽  
pp. S218-S229
Author(s):  
Heather Bradley ◽  
Elizabeth M Rosenthal ◽  
Meredith A Barranco ◽  
Tomoko Udo ◽  
Patrick S Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Persons Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Population Size Estimates ◽  
Prevalence Estimates

Abstract Background In the United States, injection is an increasingly common route of administration for opioids and other substances. Estimates of the number of persons who inject drugs (PWID) are needed for monitoring risk-specific infectious disease rates and health services coverage. Methods We reviewed design and instruments for 4 national household surveys, 2012–2016, for their ability to produce unbiased injection drug use (IDU) prevalence estimates. We explored potential analytic adjustments for reducing biases through use of external data on (1) arrest, (2) narcotic overdose mortality, and (3) biomarker-based sensitivity of self-reported illicit drug use. Results Estimated national past 12 months IDU prevalence ranged from 0.24% to 0.59% across surveys. All surveys excluded unstably housed and incarcerated persons, and estimates were based on <60 respondents reporting IDU behavior in 3 surveys. No surveys asked participants about nonmedical injection of prescription drugs. Analytic adjustments did not appreciably change IDU prevalence estimates due to suboptimal specificity of data points. Conclusions PWID population size estimates in the United States are based on small numbers and are likely biased by undercoverage of key populations and self-report. Novel methods as discussed in this article may improve our understanding of PWID population size and their health needs.

scholarly journals Illicit and Prescription Drug Misuse among Sexual Minority Women in the United States: A Protocol for a Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Kelly Gagnon ◽  
Jessica Frankeberger ◽  
Stephanie Corey ◽  
Barbara L. Folb ◽  
Christina Mair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
The United States ◽  
Minority Women ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Sexual Minority Women ◽  
Prescription Drug Misuse

  Background: The United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) published reports in 1999 and 2011 identifying drug use as a priority area for sexual minority health research, specifically focused on mechanisms contributing to drug use disparities and the development of tailored interventions. Limited research has prioritized sexual minority women (SMW) with the majority of substance use research among sexual minorities focused on adolescents and men who have sex with men. This scoping review will characterize the research literature related to illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among SMW and sub-groups within the SMW population. Through this, we will identify: (1) specific substances used; (2) patterns of substance use; (3) risk and protective factors; (4) prevention interventions; and (5) drug treatment programs specific to SMW. Methods/Design: This review will include studies with empirical data of illicit or prescription drug misuse among sexual minority women. Peer-reviewed quantitative research conducted in the United States and published in English from 2011-Present will be included. We will search Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for relevant articles. Two independent reviewers will screen abstracts and relevant full-text studies for eligibility. Data will be extracted from eligible articles and results will be presented in narrative and tabular form as appropriate. Discussion: This work will identify gaps of knowledge in the research pertaining to illicit or prescription drug misuse among sexual minority women since the 2011 US IOM report. As a result of this work, we will propose directions for future research to address identified gaps.

scholarly journals If We Build It, Will They Come? Perspectives on Pharmacy-Based Naloxone Among Family and Friends of People who use Opioids: A Mixed Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susannah Slocum ◽  
Jenny E. Ozga ◽  
Alexander Y. Walley ◽  
Robin A. Pollini ◽  
Rebecca Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Antagonist ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Expanding access to the opioid antagonist naloxone to reduce overdose mortality is a public health priority in the United States. Naloxone standing orders (NSOs) have been established in many states to increase naloxone dispensing at pharmacies, but increased pharmacy access does not ensure optimal uptake among those likely to witness an overdose. In a prior statewide purchase trial, we documented high levels of naloxone access at Massachusetts pharmacies under a statewide NSO. In this study, we characterize barriers to pharmacy-based naloxone uptake among potential opioid overdose “bystanders” (friends or family of people who use opioids) that may be amenable to intervention.Methods: Eligible bystanders were Massachusetts residents >18 years of age, did not use illicit opioids in the past 30 days, and knew someone who currently uses illicit opioids. We used a sequential mixed methods approach, in which a series of semi-structured qualitative interviews (N=22) were conducted to inform the development of a subsequent quantitative survey (N=260). Results: Most survey participants (77%) reported ever obtaining naloxone but few (21%) attempted to purchase it at a pharmacy. Qualitative participants revealed that barriers to utilizing the NSO included low perceived risk of overdose, which was rooted in misconceptions regarding the risks of prescription opioid misuse, denial about their loved one’s drug use, and drug use stereotypes; inaccurate beliefs about the impact of naloxone on riskier opioid use; and concerns regarding anticipated stigma and confidentiality. Many participants had engaged in mutual support groups, which served as a source of free naloxone for half (50%) of those who had ever obtained naloxone.Conclusions: Despite high levels of pharmacy naloxone access in Massachusetts, few bystanders in our study had attempted to obtain naloxone under the NSO. Low perceived risk of overdose, misinformation, stigma and confidentiality were important barriers to pharmacy naloxone uptake, all of which are amenable to intervention. Support groups provided a setting for addressing stigma and misinformation and provided a discreet and comfortable setting for naloxone access. Where these groups do not exist and for bystanders who do not participate in such groups, pharmacies are well-positioned to fill gaps in naloxone availability.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Varied Forms of Education in Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Veganism

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ava Seiffer ◽  
Maura Large
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Native Americans ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Large Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Consciousness ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
And Behaviors

In today’s society, the number of people who are socially conscious is rising as information becomes increasingly available. Veganism is one expression of social consciousness and while a diet that abstains from animal products dates back to the days of Native Americans, a poll conducted by Gallup found that only three percent of the United States population is vegan (McCarthy). Many studies previously conducted have synthesized the reasons why people choose to be vegan, but none of them have touched on how to best shift attitudes and behaviors of non-practitioners. According to a Vomad study, 68% of vegans were abstaining from consuming animals due to the ill-treatment of animals by society. This means that a large population of practitioners adopted veganism through becoming educated about the treatment of animals. The origins of veganism are rooted in Native Americans’ notions of duality with nature. Modern philosophical theories regarding the treatment of animals which are intended to educate society includes Ecological Animalism, focused on dualism between humans and nature, and Ontological Veganism, focused on the equality of all living beings and the morality of inflicting pain on others. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a pro-vegan organization, has chosen to educate through polarizing marketing and social media campaigns. This poses my research question: How effective is education on the philosophies of veganism in influencing non-vegans’ attitudes and behaviors as compared to education through polarizing marketing and social media campaigns?

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