Presence of Drug-Free Family and Friends in the Personal Social Networks of People Receiving Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Abstract

The present study evaluated the presence of drug-free family and friends in the personal social networks of individuals seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, and the willingness of patients to bring these individuals to the treatment program to support recovery efforts. Patients at a community medication-assisted treatment program (n = 355) completed a clinical survey to identify drug-free social network members. Results showed that almost all patients (98%) reported having at least one drug-free family or friend in their personal network (M = 3.7), and that these network members often lived in relatively close proximity to the patient (M distance of closest member = 1.8 miles). About a quarter of these individuals (26%) had a history of substance use problems, with 10% of the entire sample currently receiving treatment for a substance use problem. Rates of drug-free network members varied across several baseline characteristics. Most patients (89%) reported a willingness to invite at least one drug-free network member into treatment to support recovery efforts. Mobilizing drug-free network family and friends may provide a pathway to help individuals with substance use disorders access and benefit from community support.

Not getting high with a little help from your friends: Social versus drug network correlates of marijuana use among YMSM

“…Although it is outside the scope of this study to identify these specific processes -future work should examine the relationship between the frequency of marijuana use and increases in social isolation, or perhaps decreases in social support that are relevant to the reduction in drug use. Indeed, previous research suggests that non-drug using network members might be useful sources of support for reduction in drug use [50][51][52]. Notably, changes in drug network density and baseline drug network size were associated with changes in marijuana use frequency.…”

Locked Up and Locked Out: Client Perspectives on Personal Relationships While in Compulsory Drug Treatment

“…Considering the social relationships of people using drugs in general, previous Nordic research has mainly focused on affected family members' experiences (Norvoll et al, 2018;Richert et al, 2018;Schanche Selbekk et al, 2018;Skogens & Von Greiff, 2014). Studies focusing on youth drug treatment suggest that social relationships are a key component in treatment engagement for adolescents (Best & Lubman, 2017), a finding that resonates with similar studies on adult populations (Dobkin et al, 2002;Kidorf et al, 2016;Orford et al, 2006;Storbjörk, 2009;Veseth et al, 2019). To sum up, while relations and their importance in drug treatment have been given some consideration, there is a lack of studies giving attention to clients' own views on their personal relationships, especially while in compulsory treatment.…”

Mobilizing community support in people receiving opioid-agonist treatment: A group approach

“…The group leader uses this sheet to document group attendance, engagement in (and category of) of community activity, verification of activity, and introduction of CSP to the counselor. If the attendance form lacked information on the presence of drug-free network members, this data was taken from the Community Support Person Worksheet (Kidorf et al, 2016) that patients complete within the first month of admission.…”

“…An emerging literature demonstrates that the social networks of chronic opioid users also contain people that do not use drugs (Bohnert, Gerrman, Knowlton, & Latkin, 2010; Buchanon & Latkin, 2008; Kidorf, Latkin, & Brooner, 2016). Most studies utilizing drug-free network members of people with alcohol or drug use disorders have evaluated the use of intimate partners or family members to improve relationship functioning (O’Farrell & Clements, 2012; Stanton & Shadish, 1997).…”