Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
J Subst Abuse Treat. 2022 Jun;137:108713. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108713. Epub 2021 Dec 24.
Cross-sectional studies have shown strong relationships between social network characteristics and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment engagement. The current study examined associations between longitudinal changes in egocentric social networks of male and female people who use drugs (PWUD) and engagement in drug use reduction programs, broadly defined as either formal SUD treatment or self-help groups.
Using data from an HIV prevention and care study in Baltimore, MD, this study categorized PWUD into those who engaged and did not engage in any drug use reduction programs over two follow-ups during a one-year observation window. The study used multivariate logistic generalized estimating equations (GEE) to examine associations between network composition and stability measures and drug use reduction program engagement, stratified by gender.
Of the 176 subjects participating in drug use reduction programs at baseline, 56.3% remained engaged at one year. Among both male and female respondents, higher turnover into non-kin networks was associated with increased odds of engagement in drug use reduction programs (AOR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9, AOR 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.8, respectively). For males, retention of intimate partner networks was associated with increased odds of program engagement (AOR 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1-7.6); for females, higher turnover into kin networks was associated with decreased odds of engagement (AOR 0.8; 95% CI: 0.5-1.0).
Evaluation of associations between social network characteristics and drug use reduction program engagement appears to benefit from longitudinal analyses that are stratified by gender. Efforts to improve retention in formal SUD treatment or self-help groups might consider intervening through social networks, perhaps by increasing overall levels of social support.
横断面研究表明,社交网络特征与物质使用障碍(SUD)治疗参与之间存在很强的关系。本研究考察了男性和女性药物使用者(PWUD)的个人中心社交网络的纵向变化与参与减少药物使用计划之间的关联,广义上定义为正式的 SUD 治疗或自助团体。
本研究使用马里兰州巴尔的摩市一项艾滋病毒预防和护理研究的数据,将 PWUD 分为在一年观察窗口内的两次随访中,无论是否参与任何减少药物使用的方案。该研究使用多变量逻辑广义估计方程(GEE),按性别分层,检查网络组成和稳定性措施与减少药物使用方案参与之间的关联。
在基线时参加减少药物使用方案的 176 名受试者中,有 56.3%在一年后仍保持参与。在男性和女性受访者中,非亲属网络的高周转率与增加参与减少药物使用方案的几率相关(AOR 1.4;95%CI:1.1-1.9,AOR 1.3;95%CI:1.0-1.8)。对于男性,保留亲密伴侣网络与增加参与方案的几率相关(AOR 2.9;95%CI:1.1-7.6);对于女性,较高的亲属网络周转率与参与几率降低相关(AOR 0.8;95%CI:0.5-1.0)。
评估社交网络特征与减少药物使用方案参与之间的关联似乎受益于按性别分层的纵向分析。为改善正式 SUD 治疗或自助团体的保留率而进行的努力可能需要考虑通过社交网络进行干预,也许可以通过增加社交支持的总体水平来实现。