NORC at the University of Chicago reposted this
At the 2024 Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) meeting, Alex Kresovich highlighted our team's groundbreaking work on opioid-related content on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. 🔍Our research offers pivotal insights into how these platforms influence public opinion and dialogue around the opioid crisis. Using CrowdTangle, we collected data from Facebook and Instagram posts related to the opioid epidemic in the US, spanning from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. We focused on the top 0.5% of posts with the highest engagement, analyzing 1,267 key posts. Key Findings: 🚓 Law enforcement narratives dominated the conversation, with frequent mentions of fentanyl and heroin. 💔 Discussions on opioid treatments and harm reduction were notably sparse. ⚖️ Partisan differences were evident: right-leaning accounts blamed drug dealers and government policies, often using sensationalist language. 💬 Celebrity overdose news, though rare, generated high engagement. 📰 Local news posts focused heavily on criminality and police action, often mirroring police press releases. 📊 Our research reveals a shift towards a criminal justice lens in public discourse around the opioid crisis. Right-leaning narratives are more prevalent, with limited criticism of pharmaceutical companies or healthcare providers. The emphasis on celebrity overdoses and police narratives highlights significant societal influences on public perception. Opportunities Ahead: 💡Public health entities can leverage these insights to promote evidence-based information and foster constructive conversations. 🤝By collaborating with influential social media accounts and law enforcement, we can help reshape the narrative and tackle the opioid crisis more effectively. #OpioidCrisis #PublicHealth #SocialMediaResearch #JCOIN2024 #EvidenceBasedPolicy #HealthCommunication
This is great Alex. Nice work!
Great work Alex Kresovich !!
Fascinating! Congrats on this research, Alex!
👏 Alex Kresovich!! So fascinating
Technical Director - Engagement, Communication & Communities | 👉 Fostering community-driven outcomes for major infrastructure investments
1moValuable and timely insights Alex Kresovich.