The "Okusuri Charm" movement in Japan: Prescription drug accessories emerging on X (Twitter).

ABSTRACT:

Background

In this digital age, social networks may offer an avenue for individuals to obtain drugs illicitly beyond the prescribed amount. Users on X (Twitter)® have ingeniously fabricated fashionable accessories that employ prescription drug sheets, termed "Okusuri Charm".

Methods

This cross-sectional study scrutinized the emerging "Okusuri Charm" trend, by searching the term in Japanese on X (Twitter)® and analyzing related posts.

Results

Alongside illegal prescription drug trading, individuals crafted accessories from drug sheets, particularly prescribed psychiatric drugs, and dealt with other users, leading to a growing trend this year.

Conclusions

A positive outlook toward this trend is the emergence of a new artistic movement, but a pessimistic viewpoint

SUBMITTER: Ikejiri T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10792335 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature