Previous research has indicated that social connections shape behaviors such a drug use. A recent study assessed different types of networks, social and drug networks, in relation to marijuana use among young men who have sex with men (YMSM).
In this study, young men between the ages of 16-29 enrolled in a longitudinal study that interviewed participants every 6 months over the course of two years. The participants indicated people who they had close relationships with, as well as those who they have used marijuana with.
Majority of participants in this study had used marijuana in the past 30 days at the time the interviews took place. At the initial survey, both drug networks and social networks were linked to marijuana use. However, participants who indicated that they had larger drug networks throughout the study reported more frequent marijuana use. Also, those who had larger social networks reported less marijuana use. Individuals whose networks changed one way or another reflected these effects in changes in marijuana use. This suggests that unlike drug networks, social networks may have a protective effect when it comes to risk behaviors such as marijuana use.
Take Away: In young men who have sex with men, larger drug networks are associated with more frequent marijuana use, while larger social networks are linked to less frequent marijuana use.