Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025
08:53
Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
5.2K
Characterizing Twitter chatter about temporary alcohol abstinence during "Dry January"
Alex M Russell1, Ben N Montemayor2, Shawn C Chiang2
1Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 151 Merrimac St., Floor 4, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|August 31, 2023
Summary
Dry January, a public health campaign promoting temporary alcohol abstinence, shows promise for behavior change. Analysis of Twitter data reveals positive sentiment and themes of support, nonalcoholic drink experimentation, and derived benefits among participants.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Communication
- Social Media Analysis
Background:
- Dry January is a UK-originating public health campaign encouraging temporary alcohol abstinence in January.
- The initiative has gained significant media attention and social media engagement, becoming a cultural phenomenon.
- Social media platforms offer a valuable resource for understanding naturalistic discussions on health topics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine Twitter discussions surrounding Dry January and participants' temporary alcohol abstinence experiences.
- To analyze user sentiment, account types, and common themes related to Dry January participation on Twitter.
Main Methods:
- Collected public tweets containing "dry january" or "dryjanuary" from December 15 to February 15 over three years (2020-2022).
- A random subsample (n=3145) stratified by year was selected for manual content analysis by trained coders.
- Analyzed user sentiment, account type, participation themes, and engagement metadata (e.g., likes).
Main Results:
- A majority of tweets (74.7%) expressed positive or neutral sentiment towards Dry January.
- Common themes included encouragement and support (14.1%), experimentation with nonalcoholic drinks (14.0%), and reported benefits (10.4%).
- Mixed user sentiment was observed, indicating varied experiences and perceptions of the campaign.
Conclusions:
- Dry January demonstrates potential for promoting positive alcohol-related behavior change.
- Enhanced public health context and integration of evidence-based treatment information are needed to maximize campaign benefits.
- Future campaigns should inform participants about resources for quitting or reducing alcohol consumption.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:29Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
10.5K
Overview
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
10.5K
02:35Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes
19.9K
In a dehydration reaction, a hydroxyl group in an alcohol is eliminated along with the hydrogen from an adjacent carbon. Here, the products are an alkene and a molecule of water. Dehydration of alcohols is generally achieved by heating in the presence of an acid catalyst. While the dehydration of primary alcohols requires high temperatures and acid concentrations, secondary and tertiary alcohols can lose a water molecule under relatively mild conditions.
19.9K
02:23Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction
10.5K
Reduction is a simple strategy to convert a carbonyl group to a hydroxyl group. The three major pathways to reduce carbonyls to alcohols are catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, and borane reduction.
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
10.5K
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
241
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
241
01:17Drug Dependence
1.0K
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
1.0K
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
39.1K
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
39.1K