The Social Networks of Cocaine Users Seeking Treatment

Abstract

Research has documented the importance of individuals' social networks in facilitating and inhibiting drug use. Sociological theories of deviance and drug use provide a useful framework for understanding the influence of social networks; however, these theories differ in how they view the nature and relevance of the social relationships of drug users. This article provides a detailed descriptive analysis of cocaine users' social networks. Disaggregating the social networks into members who use or sell cocaine and those who abstain from using illegal substances, we show that the interpersonal relationships of cocaine abusers are complex and only partially consistent with dominant theories of deviance and drug use. These findings are discussed in terms of both theoretical and practical implications.

Key Words:

• Social networks
• cocaine use
• theories of deviance