Social Networks and Drug Cues Presentation Abstract Online

Our abstract from the APA research meeting is now available online along with all of the other APA research abstracts at the APA meeting website. A copy of the abstract is below! Enjoy!

Online Social Networking Sites are Drug Use Triggers among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment

Chair: David Tran B.A.; Author(s): Keith Heinzerling, M.D., M.P.H.; James McCracken, M.D.

Summary:

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to environmental cues previously associated with drug use (“people, places, and things”) is a common precipitant of drug relapse among persons receiving treatment for drug addiction. Social networks also influence substance use and this effect may be mediated via environmental cues. Use of online social networking sites has increased dramatically especially among youth. Yet the extent to which online social networking may be a source of exposure to drug
cues (“people, places, things”) among youth in substance abuse treatment is not known. This study surveyed youth in substance abuse treatment on their use of online social networking and potential exposure to drug cues.

METHODS: A 20‑question questionnaire was administered to 37 youth, aged 12 to 18, who are receiving substance abuse treatment at an adolescent treatment center in East LA. The proportion of youth who report use of online social networking sites, as well as, the proportion who report exposure to drug‑related cues was calculated. Demographics of youth who do and do not report use of social networking sites and, among those who do, exposure to drug‑cues will be compared via t‑tests and chi square analysis.

RESULTS: (1) On youth in substance abuse treatment: 92% use online social networking sites, with a majority using Facebook. 89% report marijuana as his/her drug of choice. (2) On level of exposure to drug‑related information from use of social networking sites: 88% of boys and 100% of girls reported that his/her friends on Facebook/MySpace/Twitter use drugs (p = 0.145). 94% of adolescents reported his/her friends post on drug‑related content whereas 22% reported his/her friends post on recovery‑related content (p = 0). 77% of girls and 53% of boys report that something on Facebook/MySpace/Twitter made them feel like they wanted to use drugs (p = 0.169).

CONCLUSION: A majority of youth in treatment use social networking sites. Their drug of choice is marijuana. Drug cues via online social networking exist and influence youth to use drug while in treatment. These results will be used to design an intervention to mitigate online risks to substance abuse treatment outcomes.

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