35th AM (2024) - Poster Session-Retrospective Inforveillance of Kratoms Adverse Effects on Twitter

Retrospective Inforveillance of Kratoms Adverse Effects on Twitter

Pdf Summary

The study "Retrospective Infoveillance of Kratom’s Adverse Effects on Twitter" examines user-generated content on Twitter to understand the adverse effects of kratom, a substance traditionally used in Southeast Asia for its stimulant and analgesic properties but increasingly used recreationally in the West. This research employs data collection and analysis using the Twitter Academic Research API, focusing on keywords associated with kratom's adverse effects from November 2017 to November 2022.<br /><br />A total of 2,975 tweets matching the study's criteria were analyzed, revealing that 22.7% of these tweets discussed kratom's effects. Among these, 37.7% reported negative experiences, with 24.7% discussing withdrawal symptoms. Interestingly, 17.7% described experiencing both negative and positive effects, indicating a complex perception of kratom use.<br /><br />The study highlighted the potential utility of social media for monitoring substance use trends, identifying both adverse effects and potential benefits users report. There was a noticeable increase in mentions of withdrawal over the study period, emphasizing the need for further research.<br /><br />The findings suggest an ongoing debate regarding kratom's regulatory status, balancing its potential benefits for harm reduction and pain relief against evidence of withdrawal and adverse effects. The study advocates for continued infoveillance to better understand the public health implications of increasing recreational kratom use and suggests that long-term effects require more research. This research underscores Twitter's utility as a tool for gathering real-time insights into the evolving patterns and effects of kratom use.

Keywords

Kratom

Adverse Effects

Twitter

Infoveillance

Withdrawal Symptoms

Social Media Monitoring

Regulatory Debate

Public Health

Recreational Use

Stimulant

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