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Sauna forum

Sauna forum. Open discussion on drugs, alcohol and addictions . Lotta Lehmusvaara Aino Majava. Sauna forum. Established in January 2001 as part of AddictionLink First discussion forum maintained by public substance abuse service provider

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Sauna forum

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  1. Sauna forum Open discussion on drugs, alcohol and addictions Lotta Lehmusvaara Aino Majava

  2. Sauna forum • Established in January 2001 as part of AddictionLink • First discussion forum maintained by public substance abuse service provider • Funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2000-2003 • Connected with the national drugs strategy

  3. Visitor statistics • AddictionLink: 20 000–28 00 different visitors per month • Sauna: Over 3500 different visitors per month • 3786 topics and 65029 messages altogether, plus the AddictionLink archives (2003-11-18) Statistics according to Web Traffic Monitor service

  4. Sauna forum • Powered by Bulletin Board software (UBB)

  5. Concept • Finnish Sauna culture • Atmosphere of relaxed opennes • Respecting other people • Equality • But: remember the Sauna code! • Moderated on every weekday

  6. Sauna consists of • General forum for discussion about substances and addictions • Forum for variable themes and theme related articles • Ask an expert -forum • Guest of the week: a therapist working in the field of sexual health, a doctor specialized in cannabis-issues, harm reduction expert on iv-drug use etc.

  7. Goals • Discussing the pros and cons of substance use • Making Finnish drugs discussion more versatile • Discussing drugs policies • Bringing users and their experiences into the conversation • Users' peer to peer support • Harm reduction

  8. Goals • Providing users with useful information about latest research (AddictionLink databank, theme forums, articles) and available treatment (virtual counselling, treatment places) • Gathering information on drugs cultures and risk behaviour. This information can be used for example in harm reduction and academic purposes.

  9. Sauna visitor survey 2003 • Internet survey • Implemented in June-July 2003 • Both structured and open questions • 222 respondents • 48% registered members, 52% non-registered visitors • 65% male, 35% female

  10. Survey results: Sauna visitor information • Sauna visitors are mostly young people • 40% are students • 77% live in urban area

  11. Survey results: visitors’ reported type of substance use

  12. Survey results: visitors’ education

  13. Survey results: visitors’ employment

  14. Survey results: time spent in Sauna

  15. Survey results: Sauna effect on visitors’ drugs and alcohol knowledge

  16. How Sauna discussion has affected your position on substances? • It has increased my knowledge on alcohol and drugs • My attitude towards drugs is more positive • It has given me new perspectives to drug use • My attitude towards drugs is more negative • It has prevented me from trying/using drugs • I have learned about safer ways of using drugs • I can better understand drug users • It has changed my views on drug policies and education

  17. Survey results: Sauna effect on visitors’ substance use • Sauna has encouraged 29% of visitors to try or use some substance they otherwise would not have tried or used • 71% reported of no such effect

  18. Survey results: Sauna effect on visitors’ substance use • Sauna has encouraged 51% of visitors to give up trying or using some substance they otherwise would have tried or used • 49% reported of no such effect

  19. Survey results: What’s best in Sauna • Opennes, freedom of speech • Other visitors, ”good guys” • Information on substances • Many-sidedness, heterogenity • Sharing experiences • Support of the online community • Increased understanding of drug use and drug users • AddictionLink information (Infobank etc.) • Anonymity • Entertainment value

  20. Survey results: What’s worst in Sauna • Troublemakers, ”trolls” • Too harsh or to loose moderating • Drug favouring attitude • Visitors’ young age • Unqualified or negative “enlighteners”

  21. ”Now I know much more about substances and also their harmful effects. I won't go playing with my health, as I used to due to lack of proper drugs education. On the other hand Sauna discussion has made me become interested in some drugs that I would not otherwise know about." (Female aged 21-26.) "Sauna is a place where I can be completelely honest to myself and to others. This is a good thing if you have problems with drugs." (Male aged 15-20.) ”It seems you really cannot speak openly about drug issues. I hope AddictionLink will defend our freedom of speech also in the future!” (Female aged 21-26.) Survey results: visitor comments

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