Influence of Social Media on Youth Drug Use

PI/Co-PI: Dr. Eric D. Wish and Erin Artigiani, B.A., M.A

Abstract: The Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) is conducting this project as a subcontract to Optimal Solutions as part of their larger project funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) entitled “Influence of Social Media on Youth Drug Use.” The primary goal of this project is to conduct research on drug-related content in social media (e.g., internet and social networking sites) and its impact on youth and young adults, as well as to identify effective strategies to curtail or counter potentially harmful influences. CESAR’s part of this project is to conduct: 1) a webinar with a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) consisting of 15-20 professionals identified as experts in the fields of substance use, social media and technology, communications, and behavioral research (Technical Expert Panel); 2) telephone interviews with a subset of 8-10 of the experts who may or may not have participated in the webinar (Telephone Interviews with Experts); and 3) a focus group of 10-15 young adults ages 18-25 (Focus Group with Young Adults). Information collected will be included in a final project report and article prepared as part of the “Influence of Social Media on Youth Drug Use” project.

Funding Source: Optimal Solutions, Inc.

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