Research project DR/81 (Research action DR)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Dependence on benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (here further referred to as BZD/Z) is a silent epidemic in Belgium. It is estimated that 1 in every 3 users who starts this type of psychoactive medication, still takes these medicines after 8 years, although no proven effect exists after 2-4 weeks. Hence, these habitual users experience both physiological and psychological or symbolic dependence. As such the use of BZD gradually becomes part of habitual users’ health identities.
Multiple prevention campaigns launched by the federal Belgian government have been directed at potential future users amongst the general public and first-time users. However, long-term users require more complex strategies and are widely recognized as the most complex group for health interventions. It is likely that in line with international findings, this group of habitual users shares medical(ised) information on the Internet and seeks support through online forums and chat rooms.
Through a multi-method on- and offline qualitative study, this project aims to
(1) firstly understand how habitual long-term users perceive their medication use, what meaning they attribute to these drugs, and how this is linked to their personal health identities through their personal medication narratives;
(2) secondly to explore the discursive backdrop of the contemporary normative imagery of the use of BZD/Z against which these user narratives are formed, and
(3) finally to explore how online resources (such as health communities) contribute to the (cessation of) BZD/Z use.
To achieve these objectives, the following clusters of research questions will be answered:
(1) How do habitual users narratively construct their health identity around their consumption of BZD/Z? What are the underlying motives for their (long-term) use? What meaning do these medications have in their lives, and which psychological links do users maintain with BZD/Z? What experiences do they have with cessation (either personal initiative or medically advised)? Which broader discourses and societal norms influence individual users’ narratives?
(2) Which perceptions do habitual users have of current prevention campaigns? What impact do these campaigns have on habitual users? How can sensitization campaigns be tailored for habitual users?
(3) What is the role of online health communities in acceptance, use and cessation of BZD/Z?
This project involves a combined qualitative study among long-term users, consisting of the following methods:
(1) The first phase of the project consists of a narrative inquiry of habitual users, varying in age, gender, and degrees of help-seeking behavior (i.e. no actions undertaken to stop, actively seeking help to stop, former user). Through in-depth interviews their perceptions on BZD/Z use will be further explored. We define long-term or habitual use as follows: use BZD/Z at least four times a week for at least six months or longer (during the same year) .
(2) Secondly, an Internet mediated nethnographic case-study will be conducted, focusing of online narrative accounts of (former) users. This phase will involve the collection of digital data from a wide range of publicly available online accounts of use and withdrawal to ensure that a wide sample of viewpoints on the use of BZD/Z is included. Belgian online support sites, forums, and other types of online communities that contain personal user stories will be scrutinized.
(3) Thirdly, a series of focus groups with professionals in the fields of preventive medicine and addiction, as well as policy makers, will be organised to explore results of the narrative interviews and nethnographic case-study and to formulate tailored policy recommendations.
As such, this project aims to contribute new interdisciplinary insights for future initiatives aimed at this specific yet significant group of long-term BZD/Z users, to further understand and tackle the issue of long-term consumption and dependence from the users’ perspective
Perception, habitual use and cessation of BENZOdiazepines: a multi-method NETnography (BENZONET) : final report 2021
Ceuterick, Mélissa -Christiaens, Thierry - Creupelandt, Hanne ... et al. Brussels : Belgian Science policy, 2021 (SP3017)
[To download]
Perception, habitual use and cessation of BENZOdiazepines: a multi-method NETnography (BENZONET) : summary 2021
Ceuterick, Mélissa - Christiaens, Thierry - Creupelandt, Hanne ... et al. Brussels : Belgian Science policy, 2021 (SP3018)
[To download]
Perceptie, chronisch gebruik en afbouw van BENZOdiazepines: een multi-method NETnografie (BENZONET) : samenvatting 2021
Ceuterick, Mélissa - Christiaens, Thierry - Creupelandt, Hanne ... et al. Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2021 (SP3019)
[To download]
Perception, utilisation habituelle et arrêt des BENZOdiazépines: une NETnographie multi-méthodes (BENZONET) : résumé 2021
Ceuterick, Mélissa - Christiaens, Thierry - Creupelandt, Hanne ... et al. Bruxelles, Politique scientifique fédérale, 2021 (SP3020)
[To download]
