The Social Networks of Opioid Abusers

Abstract

Using social network analysis, the pretreatment social networks of 106 street drug abusers are examined. While no significant sociodemo-graphic differences are found between opioid and nonopioid abusers, eight significant univariate differences in the characteristics of their social networks are reported. Four of these differences account for 32% of the variation between the two groups of abusers. The social networks of opioid abusers appear significantly less conventional than those of nonopioid abusers; however, opioid abusers appear less committed to the values and behaviors displayed by their network members. Network reconstruction is discussed as an explicit, empirically supportable rehabilitation strategy.