Analysis of a social media page used to support individuals who have been affected by Methamphetamine

Abstract

Methamphetamine is an illicit and addictive psychostimulant that remains a significant cause of economic burden in Australia. Social media is increasingly being used by non-government organisations and health services to encourage the growth of social support networks amongst people with health-related issues. Several studies have investigated the utility of social media in providing social support to groups of people with health-related issues. However, limited research exists exploring how people affected by methamphetamine use social media for social support. The present study aimed to determine the types of support being sought by people affected by methamphetamine when accessing a Facebook support page. 2000 unique posts were coded using content analysis. Emotional support was found to be the most offered support type, followed by esteem support, with network support and tangible support being the least offered support types. The present study demonstrates that online social support groups can be effective in challenging stigma by encouraging people affected by methamphetamine to connect with each other and talk about their struggles. This in turn represents an important step towards successful rehabilitation.