4,4′‐Dimethylaminorex (“4,4′‐DMAR”; “Serotoni”) misuse: A Web‐based study
Barbara Loi, Mire Zloh, Maria Antonietta de Luca, Nicholas Pintori, John Corkery, Fabrizio Schifano
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental May 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2575 via OpenAlex
Summary
4,4'-DMAR ("Serotoni") is a potent stimulant recently linked to multiple fatalities in Europe. Online drug-forum discussions provide technical knowledge about its use, including routes of administration, doses, desired and adverse effects, comparisons with other drugs, combinations, medications used to reverse its action, and harm-reduction advice. A critical review of evidence-based literature together with qualitative data from six website fora reveals that while netnography (social-network web monitoring) has methodological limitations, it can help clarify clinical and psychopharmacological issues for novel psychoactive substances like 4,4'-DMAR, for which scientific knowledge is extremely scarce.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Netnography and critical review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Online drug-forum communities discussing 4,4'-DMAR use |
| Keywords | Netnography Harm reduction Stimulant Scientific literature Medicine |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key finding | Online forum data provide useful qualitative information on 4,4'-DMAR's routes of administration, doses, desired and adverse effects, and harm-reduction advice, despite methodological limitations. |
Abstract
BACKGROUND: 4,4'-DMAR (4,4'-dimethylaminorex; "Serotoni") is a potent stimulant drug that has recently been associated with a number of fatalities in Europe. Over the last few years, online communities have emerged as important resources for disseminating levels of technical knowledge on novel psychoactive substances. OBJECTIVE: Analysing the information provided by the fora communities on 4,4'-DMAR use, additionally critical reviewing the available evidence-based literature on this topic. METHODS: Different website drug fora were identified. A critical review of the existing evidence-based literature was undertaken. Individuation and analysis of qualitative data from the identified website fora were performed. RESULTS: The combined search results identified six website fora from which a range of qualitative data on recurring themes was collected. These themes included routes of administration and doses; desired effects; adverse effects; comparison with other drugs; association with other drugs; medications self-administered to reverse 4,4'-DMAR action; overall impression; and provision of harm-reduction advice. CONCLUSIONS: Although being characterized by a number of methodological limitations, the social networks' Web monitoring approach (netnography) may be helpful to better understand some of the clinical and psychopharmacological issues pertaining to a range of novel psychoactive substances, including 4,4'-DMAR, for which only extremely little, if any, scientific knowledge is available.