4,4'-Dimethylaminorex ("4,4'-DMAR"; "Serotoni") misuse: A Web-based study.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Digital Ethnography

Background:

• 4,4 -DMAR (4,4 -dimethylaminorex), also known as "Serotoni," is a potent stimulant.
• This substance has been recently linked to multiple fatalities across Europe.
• Online communities are increasingly important for information dissemination regarding novel psychoactive substances (NPS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze information shared in online forums regarding 4,4 -DMAR use.
• To critically review existing evidence-based literature on 4,4 -DMAR.
• To understand the clinical and psychopharmacological aspects of NPS through social media monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Identification and analysis of data from various drug-related website forums.
• Critical review of existing scientific literature on 4,4 -DMAR.
• Qualitative data analysis of user-generated content from identified online fora (netnography).

Main Results:

• Six website fora were identified, yielding qualitative data on themes such as administration routes, dosage, effects, and adverse events.
• Collected data also covered drug comparisons, co-administration with other substances, self-administered antidotes, and harm-reduction advice.
• Recurring themes included desired effects, adverse effects, and user-reported harm-reduction strategies.

Conclusions:

• Netnography, despite methodological limitations, can offer valuable insights into NPS like 4,4 -DMAR.
• This approach aids in understanding clinical and psychopharmacological issues where scientific data is scarce.
• Online monitoring provides a supplementary method for studying novel psychoactive substances.