title: Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal with a dietary supplement, Kratom.
abstract: We examined the use of Kratom (Mitragyna sp.), a dietary supplement with mu-opioid agonist activity, by members of a cybercommunity who self-treat chronic pain with opioid analgesics from Internet pharmacies. Within one year, an increase in the number of mentions on Drugbuyers.com, a Web site that facilitates the online purchase of opioid analgesics, suggested that members began managing opioid withdrawal with Kratom. This study demonstrates the rapidity with which information on psychoactive substances disseminates through online communities and suggests that online surveillance may be important to the generation of effective opioid analgesic abuse prevention strategies.
authors: Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. edward.boyer@childrens.harvard.edu
authors: Edward W
authors: EW
authors: Boyer
authors: Kavita M
authors: KM
authors: Babu
authors: Grace E
authors: GE
authors: Macalino
authors: Wilson
authors: W
authors: Compton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001290:Attitude; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D032065:Mitragyna; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid