Socially-supportive norms and mutual aid of people who use opioids: An analysis of Reddit during the initial COVID-19 pandemic.
Big events
COVID-19
Opioids
Qualitative
Social media
Social support
Journal
Drug and alcohol dependence
ISSN: 1879-0046
Titre abrégé: Drug Alcohol Depend
Pays: Ireland
ID NLM: 7513587
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 05 2021
01 05 2021
Historique:
received:
22
11
2020
revised:
28
12
2020
accepted:
03
01
2021
pubmed:
25
3
2021
medline:
29
4
2021
entrez:
24
3
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Big events (i.e., unique historical disruptions) like the COVID-19 epidemic and its associated period of social distancing can transform social structures, social interactions, and social norms. Social distancing rules and the fear of infection have greatly reduced face-to-face interactions, increased loneliness, reduced ties to helping institutions, and may also have disrupted the opioid use behaviors of people who use drugs. This research used Reddit to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the social networks and social processes of people who use opioids. Data were collected from the social media forum, Reddit.com. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. (March 5, 2020, to May 13, 2020), 2,000 Reddit posts were collected from the two most popular opioid subreddits (r/OpiatesRecovery, r/Opiates). Posts were reviewed for relevance to COVID-19 and opioid use resulting in a final sample of 300. Thematic analysis was guided by the Big Events framework. The COVID-19 pandemic was found to create changes in the social networks and daily lives among persons who use opioids. Adaptions to these changes shifted social networks leading to robust social support and mutual aid on Reddit, including sharing and seeking advice on facing withdrawal, dealing with isolation, managing cravings, and accessing recovery resources. Reddit provided an important source of social support and mutual aid for persons who use opioids. Findings indicate online social support networks are beneficial to persons who use opioids, particularly during big events where isolation from other social support resources may occur.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Big events (i.e., unique historical disruptions) like the COVID-19 epidemic and its associated period of social distancing can transform social structures, social interactions, and social norms. Social distancing rules and the fear of infection have greatly reduced face-to-face interactions, increased loneliness, reduced ties to helping institutions, and may also have disrupted the opioid use behaviors of people who use drugs. This research used Reddit to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the social networks and social processes of people who use opioids.
METHODS
Data were collected from the social media forum, Reddit.com. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. (March 5, 2020, to May 13, 2020), 2,000 Reddit posts were collected from the two most popular opioid subreddits (r/OpiatesRecovery, r/Opiates). Posts were reviewed for relevance to COVID-19 and opioid use resulting in a final sample of 300. Thematic analysis was guided by the Big Events framework.
RESULTS
The COVID-19 pandemic was found to create changes in the social networks and daily lives among persons who use opioids. Adaptions to these changes shifted social networks leading to robust social support and mutual aid on Reddit, including sharing and seeking advice on facing withdrawal, dealing with isolation, managing cravings, and accessing recovery resources.
CONCLUSIONS
Reddit provided an important source of social support and mutual aid for persons who use opioids. Findings indicate online social support networks are beneficial to persons who use opioids, particularly during big events where isolation from other social support resources may occur.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33757708
pii: S0376-8716(21)00167-8
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108672
pmc: PMC8057693
mid: NIHMS1684860
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Analgesics, Opioid
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
108672Subventions
Organisme : NIDA NIH HHS
ID : P30 DA011041
Pays : United States
Organisme : NIDA NIH HHS
ID : R25 DA037190
Pays : United States
Organisme : NIDA NIH HHS
ID : T32 DA007233
Pays : United States
Organisme : AHRQ HHS
ID : T32 HS026120
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Références
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008 Aug 1;96(3):286-9
pubmed: 18455887
Front Public Health. 2020 Nov 05;8:540423
pubmed: 33251171
Health Commun. 2020 May;35(6):756-765
pubmed: 30887846
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Dec;83:697-712
pubmed: 28552458
J Addict Med. 2020 Jul/Aug;14(4):e6-e7
pubmed: 32404651
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Dec 1;217:108302
pubmed: 32961453
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Dec 22;14(1):
pubmed: 28025516
Int J Drug Policy. 2009 May;20(3):283-91
pubmed: 19101131
Int J Drug Policy. 2016 Feb;28:1-9
pubmed: 26790691
Am J Addict. 2019 Feb;28(2):55-62
pubmed: 30701615
NPJ Digit Med. 2018 Aug 2;1:30
pubmed: 31304312
Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017 Sep;19(3):259-269
pubmed: 29302223
AIDS Behav. 2016 Aug;20(8):1808-20
pubmed: 26796384
AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2018 Dec 05;2018:867-876
pubmed: 30815129
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Sep 1;214:108176
pubmed: 32717504
Health Educ Res. 2001 Dec;16(6):693-707
pubmed: 11780708
Addiction. 2009 Jul;104(7):1210-8
pubmed: 19563564
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Dec 1;181:5-10
pubmed: 29024875
Soc Sci Med. 2003 Feb;56(3):465-76
pubmed: 12570967
Am J Prev Med. 2007 Jun;32(6 Suppl):S160-70
pubmed: 17543707
AIDS Educ Prev. 2004 Jun;16(3):250-63
pubmed: 15237054
Addiction. 2018 Jun;113(6):1056-1063
pubmed: 29333664
J Med Internet Res. 2020 Oct 12;22(10):e22635
pubmed: 32936777
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019 Jan 1;194:358-362
pubmed: 30472576
AIDS Behav. 2020 Jan;24(1):257-273
pubmed: 31313092
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2020 Jul 31;15(1):53
pubmed: 32736568
Lancet Glob Health. 2017 Feb;5(2):e198-e207
pubmed: 27964869
Subst Use Misuse. 2015;50(7):885-90
pubmed: 25723311
Subst Use Misuse. 2015;50(7):878-84
pubmed: 25775259
Subst Use Misuse. 2008;43(12-13):1971-86
pubmed: 19016174
J Public Health (Oxf). 2017 Dec 1;39(4):763-776
pubmed: 28334848
Ann Intern Med. 2020 Jul 7;173(1):61-62
pubmed: 32240293
AIDS. 2002 Nov 22;16(17):2245-52
pubmed: 12441795
Subst Use Misuse. 2006;41(10-12):1637-51
pubmed: 17002996
Subst Abus. 2017 Oct-Dec;38(4):477-482
pubmed: 28704167
J Med Internet Res. 2020 Oct 12;22(10):e21597
pubmed: 32960775
J Subst Abuse Treat. 2016 Nov;70:87-92
pubmed: 27692194
SAHARA J. 2008 Sep;5(3):144-57
pubmed: 18979048
J Int AIDS Soc. 2020 Jul;23(7):e25583
pubmed: 32697423
Subst Use Misuse. 2015;50(7):825-38
pubmed: 25723309