{"id":395799,"date":"2023-12-22T10:20:36","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T15:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/like-kids-in-a-candy-store\/"},"modified":"2023-12-25T01:33:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T06:33:30","slug":"like-kids-in-a-candy-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/like-kids-in-a-candy-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Like kids in a candy store\u00a0","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kyoto, Japan \u2013 A non-prescription drug abuse crisis in Japan seems only one overdose away. The demand for a particular anti-cough drug has been rising, along with the social impact of its abuse due to its psychosomatic effects. <\/p>\n

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Kyoto, Japan \u2013 A non-prescription drug abuse crisis in Japan seems only one overdose away. The demand for a particular anti-cough drug has been rising, along with the social impact of its abuse due to its psychosomatic effects. <\/p>\n

The ease of obtaining information online about how to acquire over-the-counter medications or OTCs for achieving overdose, however, does not appear to be the real problem.<\/p>\n

Now, a study by a team of researchers at Kyoto University suggests that reliable information about OTC abuse needs to be readily available and effectively disseminated. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe focused on potential OTC abusers at risk of addiction though they did not show sufficient symptoms to justify or necessitate visits to medical institutions or support facilities,\u201d says corresponding author Azusa Kariya of KyotoU\u2019s Graduate School of Medicine and School of Public Health.<\/p>\n

Users of Japan\u2019s largest consumer-generated media<\/em> \u2014 or CGM<\/em> \u2014 service, Yahoo! Chiebukuro,<\/em> post their questions and responses about OTCs primarily to learn more about overdosing, such as access to the drugs, their efficacy and effects, and health risks. <\/p>\n

Abuse results from two causes: one is from seeking symptomatic relief from some physical pain and overdosing to the point of addiction. The other occurs when people intentionally overdose to cause either self-harm or psychosomatic changes. <\/p>\n

Kariya\u2019s team also found that OTC abusers and potential abusers sought advice on quitting their drug addiction on the Yahoo! community website. Most poignantly, the team discovered that OTC overdosers resist consulting others in person, making the CGM a convenient source of anonymously obtained information.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur study aims to make sense of our CGM data to identify possible overdosers. We could then be better positioned to cooperate with health professionals and seek support from pharmacies to reduce OTC abuse,\u201d adds Kariya.<\/p>\n

Kariya\u2019s team searched the names of commonly abused OTCs, tracked the keywords overdose<\/em> and OD<\/em>, and tallied the number of relevant questions posted on the Yahoo! site. <\/p>\n

The number of OD-related queries containing the keyword BRON \u2014 <\/em>an antitussive and expectorant \u2014 has increased sharply, pointing to the significant impact of community-based websites. <\/p>\n

Furthermore, the team extracted 467 items of question data that met the eligibility criteria from 528 items of BRON-tagged text data, generating 26 codes and six categories. Three main themes resulted: expectations for overdose, anxieties about overdose, and troubles in quitting overdose.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe current crisis that mental health professionals are confronting is just the tip of the iceberg. We must dive below to see the scale of abuse hidden from view,\u201d reflects Kariya. <\/p>\n

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The paper \u201cInternet-Based Inquiries From Users With the Intention to Overdose With Over-the-Counter\u201d appeared on 23 November 2023 in JMIR Formative Research<\/em>, with doi: 10.2196\/45021   <\/p>\n

About Kyoto University<\/strong>
Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia\u2019s premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at undergraduate and graduate levels complements several research centers, facilities, and offices around Japan and the world. For more information, please see: http:\/\/www.kyoto-u.ac.jp\/en<\/p>\n


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Journal<\/h4>\n

JMIR Formative Research<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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DOI<\/h4>\n

10.2196\/45021 <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Method of Research<\/h4>\n

Data\/statistical analysis<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Subject of Research<\/h4>\n

People<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Article Title<\/h4>\n

Internet-Based Inquiries From Users With the Intention to Overdose With Over-the-Counter<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Article Publication Date<\/h4>\n

23-Nov-2023<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n