Monoamine oxidase inhibitor poisoning resulting from Internet misinformation on illicit substances.
D Eric Brush, Steven B Bird, Edward W Boyer
Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology January 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1081/clt-120030949 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAdolescents may use the Internet to learn about illicit substances, and partisan websites that downplay drug risks can encourage unsafe behavior. A case is reported of an adolescent who used online information and suffered severe poisoning after combining harmaline (a monoamine oxidase inhibitor) with 5-methoxydimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), a hallucinogenic tryptamine. Adverse outcomes from Internet-sourced drug advice are rarely documented.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Adolescent |
| Keywords | Drug misinformation Online drug advice Internet misinformation False drug information Drug disinformation |
| Citations | 119 |
| Key finding | An adolescent's use of Internet-based drug information led to severe poisoning from combining harmaline and 5-MeO-DMT. |
Abstract
The Internet may represent a new mechanism by which adolescents initiate the use of illicit substances. The existence of multiple partisan websites providing misinformation regarding the safety of these substances may lead to an increase in unsafe behavior among this age group. Adverse outcomes related to Internet-based drug information are rarely identified. We report a case of an adolescent whose use of the Internet to obtain drug information led to severe poisoning from the combination of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, harmaline, and a hallucinogenic tryptamine, 5-methoxydimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT).