Families Facing the Opioid Crisis: Content and Frame Analysis of YouTube Videos

Opioid abuse has become a national crisis due to overprescribing, misuse, and misinformation. Data were collected from N = 125 YouTube videos, with n = 33 videos fitting the inclusion criteria for the analysis, which sought to understand the lived experiences of parents and families impacted by the opioid crisis. YouTube was utilized to research the opioid crisis due to the availability of up-to-date content and the large, diverse user base. Researchers used frame analysis and thematic content analysis, yielding two frames: (1) severe and urgent and (2) systemic, and four themes: (1) benefits and barriers to receiving counseling and supportive services, (2) multigenerational impact, (3) the importance of prevention and intervention, and (4) disbelief. Implications for counselors working with families affected by the opioid crisis and policy are discussed