Social media linked to rise in prescription drug abuse
“A 2017 study revealed a correlation between the popularity of social media and the rise of non-medical prescription drug use. The plethora of online social media sites are incredibly prominent and influential platforms that can be as much a nuisance as they are an asset.
Research led by Sanna Ronka at the Department of Social Research at the University of Helsinki noted online drug forums — though filled with information from a variety of sources — are often misleading and can lead to drug abuse, overdose and other risky behaviors.
Ronka noted how the online and offline worlds have blended together; the transition between online and offline is more seamless and frequent than ever before. People rely heavily on the internet and tend to use social media as their primary source for information.
Popular online social activities usually involve exploring and discussing topics through personal experiences, professional research, and sometimes fabricated personal experiences in online communities called forums. With no regulations or filters, the accuracy of this information can be questionable. Ronka’s study followed the activity of a popular Finnish drug forum, “Dopeinfo,” which was established in 2005.”
The article published in The International Journal of Drug Policy.
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