Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
Social network support for individuals receiving opiate substitution treatment and its association with treatment
Ed Day1, Alex Copello, Minesh Karia
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2FG, UK. e.j.day@bham.ac.uk
Background/Aims:
Social networks have been hypothesized to protect people from the harmful effects of stress, but may also provide dysfunctional role models and provide cues associated with drug use. This study describes the range, type and level of social support available to patients engaged in UK opiate substitution treatment (OST) programmes, and explores the association between network factors and continued use of illicit heroin.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey of a randomly selected sample of OST patients (n = 118) utilised measures of current substance use and social network structure and support.
Results:
More than half of the participants had used heroin in the previous month, and most described networks that were both supportive and positive about treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that the substance use involvement of network members was higher in those patients still using heroin, even when other treatment factors were controlled for.
Conclusion:
There was a strong association between ongoing contact with other drug users and continued use of illicit heroin in this treatment sample. Whilst there is potential for the involvement of social networks in treatment, future research needs to ascertain the exact nature of the relationship between social support and drug use.
More Related Videos
09:29Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods
Published on: August 4, 2022
09:54Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence
Published on: March 8, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Drug Dependence
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Opioid Receptors: Overview
Analgesia and Pain Management
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners