Scienceblogtwo

Through active participation in online forums, people with opioid use disorder may experience social benefits and wellness that have a profoundly positive impact on their lives. Participating in online forums, particularly those that are general in nature and unrelated to drug and addiction themes, might help patients develop invaluable "social capital" that dramatically reduces the risk that they would experience a use episode while in remission. On the other hand, if someone spends too much time on forums for therapy and support, their chance of reporting a use episode while in remission may rise. These recent findings from a University of Exeter study may have a big influence on public health, especially for those who are less able or willing to take part in traditional on-site recovery and rehabilitation programs. The study, which was released in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, highlights the continuous advantages that online forums may offer years into a person...