Capstone A: Social Capital and Drug Overdose in Young Adults, Analysis

This capstone project investigates the correlation between social capital and drug overdose in young adults. It begins with an introduction that defines social capital and its impact on societal functioning, highlighting the connection between social networks and drug use. The project explores the research question of how a lack of social capital increases the susceptibility of drug overdose in young adults, and identifies the key issues and health problem statements. It reviews relevant literature, including themes on the concept of social capital, drug overdose issues, reasons for drug intake among young adults, and potential reduction strategies. The project also applies Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory to explain the motivational factors behind drug use and explores how unmet social needs, such as belongingness, can lead to drug addiction and overdose. The methodology includes a search strategy using secondary sources to conduct an effective literature review. The project aims to assess whether a lack of social capital can influence deliberate drug overdose among young adults, with the objective of understanding the complex relationship between social connections and substance abuse.

Capstone A: Applied
Research Project in
Public Health

Table of Contents
TITLE: Correlation of Social capital and drug overdose in young adults.......................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Search strategy.................................................................................................................................3
Research question and justification.................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................4
Identification of Key issues/ Health problem statement..................................................................4
Aim..................................................................................................................................................5
Research aim..........................................................................................................................5
Theories and concepts......................................................................................................................5
Literature review..............................................................................................................................6
Theme 1: Concept of social capital.......................................................................................6
Theme 2: Drug overdose issue in present social capital........................................................7
Theme 3: Reasons which influences young adults towards intake of drugs.........................7
Theme 4: Ways to reduce intake of drugs among youngsters...............................................9
Conceptual framework...................................................................................................................11
Gap of literature.............................................................................................................................12
Summary........................................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
Books and journals...............................................................................................................14

TITLE: Correlation of Social capital and drug overdose in young adults
INTRODUCTION
Social capital is comprehensively said to be as the social networks that are being shared
by the individuals living in the particular society and also provide support to the same society to
execute its functioning effectively within the same (Zoorob and Salemi, 2017). Social capital
includes range of benefits which results in the development of society while on the other hand it
also becomes the core reason behind drug overdose among the young adults as accompanying
with the bad companions directly influences them to indulge into bad habits. It has also been
analysed that around 425,000 persons above the age of 12 years used a needle to inject heroin,
cocaine, methamphetamine or other stimulants in the past year Extant studies show that 35–65%
of current PWID report risky injection behaviours such as needle sharing. These figures clearly
depicts that drugs is becoming common for all the individuals especially young adults are
consuming it as per their favourable situations. Many a times these people consume drugs due to
lack of social capital which ultimately leads to drug overdose in many cases. This clearly depicts
that social capital and drug overdose have strong connection with one another. This report will
includes detailed information on the topic “Correlation of Social capital and drug overdose in
young adults”. The main focus of the project would be on determining the core issues associated
with the same. Also, appropriate sources as well as the studies would be covered in order to
execute an effective literature review section.
Search strategy
The present project have been performed with the by including secondary sources in
order to carry out effective literature review. In order to do it so in effective manner, the
respective investigator focuses on developing several search strategies which includes
identification of the key concepts and terms in the initial time. After this, relevancy of the key
topics have been checked and researcher selects the specific resource as per the core requirement
of the study (Heyman, McVicar and Brownell, 2019). After finalising sources individual focuses
on searching for the core information from the available sources in order to gather required
information on the same in appropriate manner. Last but not the least step of this search strategy
is to look after the search results and review the overall gathered information so that they can
effectively determine that whether it is worthy for them or not.

Research question and justification
Research Questions
How lack of social capital increases the susceptibility of drug overdose in young adults?
Social capital plays essential role in the well being of the individuals as its support can
help individual in continuing their life effectively whereas if the person is not getting support
from the society or if there is the lack of social capital then it directly influences individuals
especially young adults to get attracted towards the drugs (Monnat, 2018). This is so because,
lack of social capital directly develops the feeling of loneliness and depression among the
individuals which ultimately influences them to get attracted towards the drugs. Also, constant
based consumption of drugs directly makes people its addictive. Thus, if these young adults
might face any sort of disconnection from social capital then they might intake larger amount of
drug which could result in drug overdose among young adults.
Identification of Key issues/ Health problem statement
Young adults specifically belongs the age group when kids have just crossed the their age
and reached to the mature adults who are self capable of performing their own work and take
decision about their life as well as professional life too. It can be later said that young adults have
just reached to the maturity thus they are not able to analyse the society and its reaction (Sered,
2019). They are more influential as compared to other adults because they are expecting a lot
from society and believes that if the society is not responding as per their own way then they
takes several actions and believes in developing new habits among themselves so that they can
get accepted by the society. This simply can be seen as the core issue as lack of the social capital
support direct places negative impact over the mindset of the young adults which also results in
the excessive consumption of drugs which leads to drug overdose among young adults. Apart
from this, the another issue that is linked with this is the behaviour of young people that they
believes in getting separated from their parents in order to start living their life at their own level.
This simply results in the increasing influence of peer on the young people. Also, separation
from the parents also results in the excessive involvement of the individual with their peers,
neighbours and friends (Dail, 2020). These strong connection with the social group could result
place both the positive as well as negative influence over the person. The positive influence can
be seen in the form of increasing influence of the person towards the social work and other

important things which helps them out in positive manner that ultimately results in the success of
their career. On the other hand, if it is talked about the negative impact it can be further said that
the person might get involved into negative company which would directly influence them to
start indulging into negative activities the main among them are drug intake, consumption of
alcohol, smoking and others (Zarwell, 2016). It has been later seen that young adults who moves
away from the family could result into the starting engaging with the peers at extensive level or
they might start living alone. This loneliness becomes major issue for the same person as they
gets more influenced towards the consumption of drugs and other addictive habits which impacts
negatively over their health. The overall study provides clear knowledge on the social capital and
its influence over the behaviours of young people towards their health. Along with this, it would
also help them out in determining the core reasons behind the overdoses of drug consumption
among young adults.
Aim
Research aim
The proposed research aim for the current study is “To assess whether lack of social
capital can influence the deliberate drug overdose amongst young adults”.
Theories and concepts
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory was given by the Sir Maslow in the year 1943. This
theory clearly depicts that individual can only get motivated when their needs and requirement
get fulfilled in the timely manner. Here, it can be said that said that if these people get satisfied at
starting stage then they would be able to get motivated with the fulfilment of another need of the
same person belonging to other stage (Folland, 2018). The respective theory has total 5 stages in
total which includes physiological stage, safety, love/ belongingness, esteem and self
actualisation. With reference to the current scenario of the social capital and its lackness leads to
overdose of drugs among young people, it can be said that young adults mainly gets attracted
towards the drugs and other things due to the circumstances of their regular based life and
societal pressure. Here, it can be said that when these young adults does not get support from
their family and friends or their core need for interpersonal relationship doesn’t get fulfilled then
they won’t get motivated and does not able to keep themselves tracked on the right path. It
becomes more difficult for the young adults to stay happier within the society where they are not

getting support and affection which leads to mental breakdown among young adults. This
breakdown directly makes it difficult for them to remain active in their work which ultimately
influences them to get attracted towards the drugs (Engelhardt, 2017). Furthermore, it has been
seen that many a times, it has been observed that young adults often feels that they are getting
attracted towards the drugs with the motive of the getting involved with the individual whom
they admire. These people believe that if they will acquire habits like them then they would be
easily able to grab opportunity of maximising their friends. This thinking process of the person
especially young adults influences them to get involved towards the drugs. However, if the same
person get realised that they after placing so many efforts still they are not able to grab attention
of their admirer or still they are not getting good company then it directly becomes difficult for
them accept the situation which ultimately influences them to start in taking higher amount of the
drugs which leads to drugs overdose.
Literature review
Theme 1: Concept of social capital
On the basis of views expressed by Engelhardt, (2017) social capital is commonly said to
be as the relationship in between individuals living and working within particular society and
enabling the society to execute their functioning in an appropriate manner. Along with this, it has
been later analysed that social capital is very broad topic which includes several aspects of the
social life of person. This basically includes family support, peer relation, social network and
others. Also, it has been acknowledged that social capital is consists of all the features associated
with the social structure which ultimately helps individual in taking several actions within the
society only. It has been acknowledged that social capital simply helps individual in developing
their own knowledge regarding the societal values which ultimately provides them support in
working accordingly. Apart from this, it has been later analysed that increasing interaction with
the society as well as its associated people directly provides range of benefits to the individual
but at the same time it creates lots of issues to them too as the negative company influence
people towards the non worthy direction that might be hazardous to them.

Theme 2: Drug overdose issue in present social capital
According to the viewpoint presented by Carrillo Alvarez, (2016) it has been analysed
that social capital is acknowledged as the effective concept which helps individual in developing
their relationship within society. The social capital is all about the social networking and
relationship that a single individual have within the society in which he/she lives. Social capital
plays a significant role in influencing life of individual either in positive or negative manner. As
people get highly influence to act in a certain manner by observing and getting involve with
people who are among their reference group. This is also considered as one of the reason behind
increasing drug addiction among the youngsters. It is so because at an early teenage youngster
started seeking from living their private life with friends and get separate from families and this
stage they get more involved within their friends circle or new group and to get connected with
them started taking their habits too. This is the main cause behind their use of drug, but when
their body get addicted to it they started increasing the intake of drug. This is the main cause
through which drug overdose actually started. The drug addiction can be seen more among
youngsters then adult as they try to get more and more social capital for getting popular and at
the same time getting in such company which they think good and where they can enjoy. But let
them to another direction by making them addict to drugs which in turn increases after every
take. Therefore social capital is consider to be a main reason behind increasing habit of
youngsters toward drug overdose. The overconsumption of drug in turn try to make them involve
several wrong practices and also affect their mental as well as physical health.
Theme 3: Reasons which influences young adults towards intake of drugs
From the perception presented by the author named as Fabrizio, (2019), it has been analysed that
the intake of drug among young adults can be seen due to several reasons that directly influences
interest of people towards it. This simply places major influence over their potential to intake the
same drug. Some of the common reasons which influences young people to intake drugs are
mentioned as below:
Enjoyment
This is the first and foremost reason which influences individuals especially young adults
to intake drugs. It is very much clear in the surrounding that drugs are not for health but at the
same time it has been seen that people believes as well as suggests other individuals to take drug
as it is highly pleasurable and provides very much favourable experience to the same person. The

strong myth towards the intake of drug such as feelings of excitement, confidence and
connection with others are acknowledged as the common reasons that influences young adults to
take drug at constant basis (Wolff, 2019). Also, these people believe that intake of drug helps
them out in getting relieved from boredom.
Environment
Environment as well as surrounding of the individual is taken as one of the most essential
reason which influences people especially young adults to start consuming drug. Here, it can be
said that the people within the society mainly suffers from high unemployment, deprivation, low
quality housing, areas where local services are very low and not resourced properly. In these
kind of communities drugs easily get available to the person. Away with this, it has also been
seen that if the young adults are living in the environment where they are facing several issues
then treated to the family issues, or any other sort of mental pressure and others, and in mean
while if the same person is forced by the friend who is already habitual of drug then there are
measure chances that these individual might get influenced towards the drug. These people initial
take drug for the relieving their stress but with the regular based intake of drugs directly make
these people addictive of drugs (Smith and et. al., 2020). On the other hand, it has been later
analysed that urban areas also promotes intake of drugs may ways. It has been seen that there
are numerous cases identified in the private schools where students gets drugs available at school
from several sources. This availability at the accessible medium directly makes it easier for the
youngsters to get habitual of the drug from the starting stage only.
Curiosity
Curiosity among the human beings is considered as the most influential thing that can be
taken as main reason which convinces young people to take drugs. It has been seen that
behaviour of human is very much curious as they wants to do experiments with several new
things so that they can gain different experience (Drakeford, 2019). Drug can be seen as the
another reason which develops curiosity among young people and influences them to take drug
in order to develop their knowledge on the feeling that is experienced by the person after taking
drugs.
Peer pressure
It can be said that the being surrounded with the person who are taking drugs might
create feeling of following the same among the others. This is so because, young adults mainly

develops interest of consuming drugs by observing surrounded people taking it at constant basis.
This can be commonly seen when individual moves for the outing with the friends or peer who
are taking drugs. Here, these drug addictive people directly places pressure and forces
accompanied individuals so that they can also try drug and start in taking it at constant basis.
This clearly depicts the peer pressure on the individual not habitual of taking drugs to consume
it.
To feel better:
It can be said that the lifestyle of the people are now a days so much hectic and busy
which directly develops the feeling depression, physical pain, stress related disorders and anxiety
among them. This simply influences people to take drugs at constant basis so that they could get
some relief from their life and enjoy (Kumpula, 2018). These people personally feels that they
would get influenced towards the drugs and start taking initiative to consume it at every possible
time or the more depressed situation.
To do better in academics or sports:
Individual also gets attracted towards the drugs with the motive of stimulating their
academic scores as with the intake of drugs these people are able to boost up their performance
and score higher marks.
Theme 4: Ways to reduce intake of drugs among youngsters
As per information expressed by Matt Gonzales, 2020 .there are many ways that can be
sued for the purpose of reducing the drug intake by youngsters. Many teenagers are not aware of
the long term impact of drug intake this is the major reason that they do not realise the
seriousness of all these consequences that might impact them and their families. Addiction is a
chronic disease that can result into people repeatedly seeking and making drug consumption
despite of serious consequences. Teens are usually at the developing stage according to their
metal level and there is a presence of high addiction risk. Addiction results into further slowing
down the process of brain development (Manduca, 2019). There are many ways that can be used
by parents and known ones of a particulate individual and then prevent them from getting
addicted to in taking of drugs. Such as one such step is involved is Prevention. This is one of
best ways that can be used where there is requirement to have honest discussions about dangers
associated with drug use & peer pressure that can lead to making a huge difference in their lives.

Another measure can be teaching teens to how to say no to their friends or known ones
who are offering them these drugs. Teens are usually afraid of giving negative reaction and this
leads to high pressure on them and they say yes. Parents must posses healthy relationships with
their children who are at teen stage and make them understand that it is very important to say No
in certain conditions to save themselves from high drug addiction. There must be use of a
community based prevention organisation to get reliable information related to harmful effects
of consuming drugs both from the aspects of mentally, socially and physically (Case and Deaton,
2020). There must be a strategic technique that can be adopted by parents where they can
engage their teens in healthy activities, fun activities, music, sports so that they do not posses
mindset of seeking drug as a remedy for the problems that they are suffering like the situations of
chronic depression.
There can be some weekend outings, Sunday plans, regular meals with family or
spending some time together by having more recreational activities will help teens in being
happy & engaged in some activity or another. Teens must be made realised that there can be fun
without drugs also and it is not the solution of all the problems that they are facing instead
solutions can be developed with finding the cause of it. All these informal & regular discussion
will help in teens getting out of it and they will be in a tricky situation. In some serious issues
where these measures are of not much help and ready the person is in serious situation where
they cannot get out of it there will be a requirement to approach some sobriety and medical help
from various counsellors will help in getting out of their condition.
Examine various risk factors by getting aware of the biological environment and all
different types of physical factors. Usually teens who consume drugs are suffering from anxiety,
post-traumatic stress and depression that must be identified before in order to find proper
solution and for such serious issues there must be always seeking of help from professionals
(Soussan and Kjellgren, 2019). So, that there can be use of medication also that can accompany
in curing the situation faster and helping the teen to come out of addiction more easily. It is also
extremely very important to recognise the warning signs that can be observed in the sudden
behaviour changes of a teen that must be identified early so that effective solutions can be
developed in order to deal with such addiction issues.

Conceptual framework
Conceptual framework is basically termed as the effective analytically tool which supports
individual in determining the current topic and applying it several context and variation to it in
order to attain appropriate outcome towards the same effectively. It is also useful in examining
the current topic with distinctiveness and organising all associated ideas belonging to it.
Social capital is basically acknowledged as the new way of conceptualising for
determining health behaviour of the individual in order to determine that how much drugs is
being consumed by them with the motive of analysing its addictiveness. It also depicts the strong
relationship between social capital and drugs consumption as well as its overdose (Duncan,
2019). Also it has been further analysed that drug use is basically seen as the social behaviour
which involves interaction among the individual in several manners such as buying, selling
drugs, paraphernalia, injecting drugs, sharing injection equipments. The framework later depicts
that the social network group basically promotes drug consumption behaviour among individual
and also enhances its overdose among young adults (Lee and et. al., 2019). Apart from this,
involvement of social capital can be seen in the form of many ways with the influence of
consumption of drugs consumption and its overdose. Some of the core elements of social
elements associated with the same are physical assistance, emotional support, material aid,
informational support, social participation, multiplexity, reciprocity and many others.

Gap of literature
The main literature gap within this study is that it has ignored the life failure and job
failure of the person. Apart from this, it has been acknowledged that the impact of drug overdose
on personal life of young adults have been ignored in this study. Also, mental breakdown which
is the major problem in our society have been ignored by the investigator that also creates huge
literature gap within the same study.
Summary
From the above performed investigation about data from several scholars it has been
evaluated that today the drug overdose has become one of the major issue within the society that
not only affect the health of an individual but also influencing their life in term of their
education, career etc. From this study it has been presented that the social relations also known
as social capital is also consider as a main cause behind this drug overdose. As by getting into
the networking of people who intake drugs another individual also get influenced with them and