title: Social network support for individuals receiving opiate substitution treatment and its association with treatment progress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social networks have been hypothesized to protect people from the harmful effects of stress, but may also provide dysfunctional role models and provide cues associated with drug use. This study describes the range, type and level of social support available to patients engaged in UK opiate substitution treatment (OST) programmes, and explores the association between network factors and continued use of illicit heroin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of a randomly selected sample of OST patients (n = 118) utilised measures of current substance use and social network structure and support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of the participants had used heroin in the previous month, and most described networks that were both supportive and positive about treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that the substance use involvement of network members was higher in those patients still using heroin, even when other treatment factors were controlled for.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a strong association between ongoing contact with other drug users and continued use of illicit heroin in this treatment sample. Whilst there is potential for the involvement of social networks in treatment, future research needs to ascertain the exact nature of the relationship between social support and drug use.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2FG, UK. e.j.day@bham.ac.uk
authors: Ed
authors: E
authors: Day
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Copello
authors: Minesh
authors: M
authors: Karia
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Roche
authors: Panthratan
authors: P
authors: Grewal
authors: Sanju
authors: S
authors: George
authors: Sayeed
authors: S
authors: Haque
authors: Gagandeep
authors: G
authors: Chohan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone