Our professor, Graham Dover, had emailed us a link about for a Facebook group. It was created by the BC Medical Association to create conversations about drug addiction - using Facebook as a platform for discussion. The main question is: “Is Addiction A Disease or Human Failure?” Browsing through the numerous posts, it seems that the general consensus is that addiction is a disease. However, posters differ on how they define “disease”.
Using social networking websites are a great place to generate awareness on an issue. We will post information about our event on Facebook, as well as the ideas that will be generated. Just like the group created by BCMA, we will allow users to create posts and stimulate discussion.
If you are interested in joining this Facebook dialogue on addiction, please click on this link. The greater the discussion, the greater understanding we have of how various people view addiction. With that said, to change people’s mentality, we have to know where they are coming from.
BWiles
sunnyhoshingchan
changmai
mattbaril
Glad you guys are seeing the potential online resources have. You are already using a fantastic one, WordPress! Don’t forget its not just facebook, twitter and other social networking sites are out there.
That’s a good point Ryan. Facebook would the largest but social networking site, but there are numerous others. Twitter’s popularity is vastly increasing making it attractive to spread information on social isssues, like how it was used during Iran’s controversial election.
Using social networks such as Facebook to create exposure to the issue is a great idea. Yet it’s sad to see how many people see addiction as a disease, meanwhile this stigma still exists regarding drug addicts.
Yeah its sad that the stigma towards drugs addicts lingers, which makes it more difficult to chance related policies. I feel that Vancouver has come a long way in changing how it perceives drug issues but big steps still have to be taken before the general public are more than just “tolerating”.
I love the idea of using social networking to generate awareness. My only question would be about how to actually engage people in these advocacy groups on something that i’m assuming they use for fun more often than not.
I suspect you may have to start some sort of facebook contest or something and publicize it to actually generate significant awareness.
It is true that perhaps some of the users on social networking sites may not be truly passionate about a certain issue. However at those users would be exposed to something, that they most likely wouldn’t have. In addition, it allows users that have common ideas to come and meet on a platform that they most likely use on a daily basis.
On a site like Facebook where there are numerous advertisements, fan pages and groups..it can be difficult to sift through all that and still generate awareness. As long as the discussion is on-going with people actively contributing, I think it is a success, even if on a small scale.
I agree. Online social networks are a great way for not only sharing ideas and forming networks, it’s a great forum to generate exposure for ideas and solution. Who doesn’t use facebook these days? It’ll be a great way for you guys get connected with supporters to help solve drug addiction. Good luck!
Thanks Helen! Having discussion with various FB users and knowing that they are passionate and have goals similar to ours, I’m sure they would offer some support, even if simply through networking. The more people we can contact, the greater chance of success for our open-dialogue forum.