Misuse of opioid analgesics. An internet analysis

Apart from the prescribed administration and indications for pain relief, opioids are also used for unintended purposes. Information for misuse is circulated on the internet. In order to analyze the abuse of opioids and opiates,which are only available by prescription, defined search keywords were entered into the search engine of a German language internet forum on drugs in 2010 and 2013 and the results were evaluated. Items to be assessed and analyzed were the frequency of naming various substances and (in the first analysis only) aspects of their incorporation as well as user reports on various aspects of use (e.g. drug procurement, administration, effects and side effects). Tramadol was the most frequently quoted opioid followed by codeine, tilidine, morphine and oxycodone. Other opioids were named in only 10 % of the entries. Oral intake was the most frequently mentioned mode of administration followed by parenteral and nasal routes. These findings can support caregivers to identify unintended use of opioids and to increase awareness of the most frequently used opioids and modes of administration.