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The slippery slope of flubromazolam: Experiences of a novel psychoactive benzodiazepine as discussed on a Swedish online forum
Karlstad University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (starting 2013), Department of Social and Psychological Studies (from 2013).ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7201-934X
Karlstad University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (starting 2013), Department of Social and Psychological Studies (from 2013). Karlstad University, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology (starting 2013), Centre for Public Safety (from 2013).ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5668-0469
2017 (English)In: Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, ISSN 1455-0725, E-ISSN 1458-6126, Vol. 34, no 3, p. 217-229Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Aim: The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the effects experienced by users of a novel psychoactive substance, the benzodiazepine flubromazolam, by analysing users' own accounts on the Swedish forum Flashback.org. Method: A thematic analysis of anonymous self-reports published on the forum was performed and generated five general themes describing effects and experiences by flubromazolam users. Results: The themes which emerged were: Onset and duration, Desired effects, Adverse effects and addiction, Loss of control, General estimations and evaluations. The main reported characteristics of flubromazolam were heavy hypnotic and sedative effects, long-lasting amnesiac effects and the rapid development of tolerance. Flubromazolam was also anxiolytic and acted as a muscle relaxant for many users. Some users experienced euphoria or intense wellbeing. Other prominent characteristics were loss of control (leading to poor choices and actions, with unpleasant consequences) and long-lasting, often severe withdrawals. There were also serious incidents where users had been admitted to hospital, acute psychiatric treatment or taken into custody by the police. Conclusion: Flubromazolam appears to be a highly addictive and precarious benzodiazepine with many, possibly severe, side effects. The substance is generally described as very potent and with long-lasting effects. Memory loss and loss of control are common adverse effects, and withdrawals appear to be severe for many users

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2017. Vol. 34, no 3, p. 217-229
Keywords [en]
addiction, benzodiazepine, drug discussion forum, flubromazolam, harm reduction, novel psychoactive substance, NPS
National Category
Substance Abuse Applied Psychology Human Aspects of ICT
Research subject
Psychology with an emphasis on medical psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-65705DOI: 10.1177/1455072517706304ISI: 000406313600006OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-65705DiVA, id: diva2:1175639
Available from: 2018-01-18 Created: 2018-01-18 Last updated: 2022-11-21Bibliographically approved

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Andersson, MartinKjellgren, Anette
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CiteExportLink to record
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Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
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  • de-DE
  • en-GB
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  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
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  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
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  • text
  • asciidoc
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