Faculty Sponsor, if applicable
Dr. Leonard Jason
Project Abstract
Social network theory examines how the social context and behaviors of people in the social network influence the behavior of the individual. The behavior of members in a social network may be a significant predictor of an individual’s sustained abstinence. The purpose of this study is to examine compositional changes in social networks of individual ex-offender, primary heroin abusers and how these compositional changes over time may relate to recovery outcomes. We hypothesize that the Oxford house and therapeutic care conditions will have more positive recovery outcomes than the usual aftercare condition. We hypothesize that the Oxford house and therapeutic care conditions will have less substance users and more abstinent people in their social network over time than the usual aftercare condition. We hypothesize that the number of sober members in the social network will correlate with longer sustained sobriety for ex-offender, heroin users. Measures include Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and the Important Person Inventory, revised from Important People and Activities (IPA), utilized for examining members in the social network, relationship to the individual and to each other, frequency of contact, and levels of support each member offers. Secondary data analysis is currently underway.
Type of Research
Department Honors
Preview
Presentation Year
May 2016