Al-Hamid, A, Tudor, C and Assi, S (2023) Exploring profile, effects and toxicity of novel synthetic opioids and classical opioids via Twitter: A qualitative study. Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health, 4.

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Abstract

Background and aims: Novel synthetic opioids’ use has been increasing over the last decade and the opioid epidemic has attributed to 70 % of drug-related deaths worldwide. Lately, Twitter has become one of the key social media platforms where the public express their unfiltered and honest views and opinions anonymously and freely. Methodology: This research comprised a qualitative study that explored the motivations, effects and toxicity of novel synthetic opioids from the perspectives of Tweeters. Tweets were extracted using NVivo 12 Pro by using the Chrome NCapture where thematic content analysis was applied. Extracted data from relevant tweets were coded into subthemes and themes. Findings: Five main themes were found related to uses of opioids; public knowledge and attitude, desired effects, adverse events, and harm reduction strategies. For public knowledge and attitude, users reported about sources of opioids, as well as purity, addiction potential and lethal effects. The main uses of opioids included self-medication and for recreational purposes. For self-medications, users sought opioids against anxiety, depression, pain, and overcoming a previous opioid addiction. However, adverse events related to opioid use surpassed the desired effects and were: psychosis, addiction, withdrawal, respiratory depression and lethal effects. Most of the adverse events were linked to novel opioids rather than classical ones. Conclusions: Twitter provided a valuable source of information regarding opioids’ modalities of use, desired effects and adverse events. These findings benefit practitioners and healthcare professionals dealing with opioid users.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3214 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences; 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Substance Misuse; Patient Safety; Opioid Misuse and Addiction; Opioids; Behavioral and Social Science; Brain Disorders; Drug Abuse (NIDA only); Mental health; 3 Good Health and Well Being
Subjects:	R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Divisions:	Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2025 16:36
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2025 16:36
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.etdah.2023.100139
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25865

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