Beyond internet as tool: A mixed-methods study of online drug discussion - PhD Project

  • Research program: New technologies and online interventions
  • Project status: Completed
  • Start date: February 2006
  • Expected end date: December 2012
  • Completion date: April 2012
  • Funded by: NDRI Scholarship
  • Lead organisation:

This thesis describes how internet use has shaped drug practices among Australians who engage in the recreational use of psychostimulants and hallucinogens (‘party drugs’) and participate in public internet forums. This thesis uniquely contributes to drugs research by applying theoretical frameworks from internet studies, finding that internet forums enable the consumption and production of drug information, facilitate the production of alternative online places, and are increasingly converged with offline social worlds.

Dr Monica Barratt
Research Fellow
Tel:
m.barratt@unsw.edu.au
View profile

Professor Simon Lenton
Director
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1603
s.lenton@curtin.edu.au
View profile

Professor Matthew Allen
Professor
Tel:

View profile

Name & Contact Details Role Research Program Location

This project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals and Targets:

Barratt, M., J. and Lenton, S. (2017). Drugs and the internet. In Ritter, A., King, T. and Lee, N. (eds.) Drug use in Australian society (2nd ed). Oxford, South Melbourne. pp. 102-123. ISBN: 9780190306458 [CH215]

Barratt, M., J., Ferris, J. and Lenton, S. (2015). Hidden populations, online purposive sampling, and external validity: Taking off the blindfold. Field Methods, 27, (1), pp. 3-21. doi:10.1177/1525822X14526838 [RJ805] View web page

Barratt, M., J., Allen, M. and Lenton, S. (2014). ‘PMA sounds fun’: Negotiating drug discourses online. Substance Use and Misuse, 49, pp. 987-998. doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.852584 [RJ887] View web page

Barratt, M., J. and Lenton, S. (2013). Drugs and the internet. In Ritter, A., King, T. and Hamilton, M. (eds.) Drug use in Australian society. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne. pp. 272-293. [CH183]

Barratt, M., J., Lenton, S. and Allen, M. (2013). Internet content regulation, public drug websites and the growth in hidden Internet services. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 20, pp. 231-237. doi:10.3109/09687637.2012.745828 [RJ873] View web page

Allsop, S., Lee, N. and Barratt, M., J. (2012). Part 2: Personal perspectives. In Allsop, S. and Lee, N. (eds.) Perspectives on Amphetamine-Type Stimulants. I.P. Communications, Melbourne. pp. 117-158. ISBN: 978-0-9808649-9-1 [CH181]

Barratt, M., J. (2012). Silk Road: eBay for drugs [Letter to the editor]. Addiction, 107, (3), pp. 683. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03709.x [RJ818] View web page

Barratt, M., J. (2012). The efficacy of interviewing young drug users through online chat. Drug and Alcohol Review, 31, pp. 566–572. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2011.00399.x [RJ816] View web page

Barratt, M., J. (2012). The internet poses unique challenges for drug prohibition. The Conversation. [UJ174] View web page

Barratt, M., J. (2011). A trip down the Silk Road. Injecting Advice. [UJ170] View web page Abstract

Barratt, M., J. (2011). Blocked: Internet filtering, drug websites and harm reduction in Australia. Dovetail, 6, pp. 10-13. [UJ173] View web page

Barratt, M., J. (2011). Discussing illicit drugs in public internet forums: Visibility, stigma, and pseudonymity. In Kjeldskov, J. and Paay, J. (eds.) C&T '11. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Communities and Technologies, Brisbane, Australia. ACM, New York, NY. pp. 159-168. ISBN: 978-1-4503-0824-3 [CH175] Abstract

Barratt, M., J. (2011). Drugs and information and communication technologies. DrugInfo, 9, (1), pp. 2. [UJ169]

Barratt, M., J. (2011). Internet filtering, drug websites and harm reduction in Australia. Entheogenesis Australis (EGA) Journal, 3, pp. 102-105. [UJ172]

Barratt, M., J. (2011). Public submission to the ALRC National Classification Scheme review. [R250] Download PDF

Barratt, M., J. (2011). The proposed Australian internet filter: How will people who use drugs be affected? CentreLines, 34, pp. 2-4. [UJ171] Download PDF

Barratt, M., J. and Lenton, S. (2010). Beyond recruitment? Participatory online research with people who use drugs. International Journal of Internet Research Ethics, 3, (1), pp. 69-86. [RJ755] View web page

Nielsen, S. and Barratt, M., J. (2009). Prescription drug misuse: Is technology friend or foe? Drug and Alcohol Review, 28, pp. 81-86. [RJ686] Abstract