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DIY Drug Detox: Woman's Risky Experiment
6 May
Summary
- A 27-year-old woman self-experimented with a lab-made drug for sobriety.
- The experimental drug, SR-17018, lacks human safety studies.
- Her experiment ultimately led to relapse and further drug use.
In late 2024, a 27-year-old woman, known as Becks, began a risky self-experiment with SR-17018, a novel synthetic drug, in her Boston suburban home. She sought to overcome a decade of addiction, primarily to kratom, finding traditional methods ineffective against potent synthetic opioids.
SR-17018, developed by Dr. Laura Bohn, showed promise in animal studies for reducing opioid dependence, but it has not been tested for human safety. Despite warnings from the scientific community, Becks, a chemistry hobbyist, saw it as a last resort.
Her experiment, documented in an online diary, provided some initial relief from withdrawal symptoms. However, by Day 8, she experienced severe discomfort, ultimately leading to a relapse with kratom. The experiment concluded without sustained sobriety.
Becks's experience is part of a broader trend of individuals self-experimenting with unproven drugs due to the escalating opioid crisis. While the science behind SR-17018 is still nascent, researchers like Dr. Bohn are exploring its potential, while also cautioning against its unsupervised use.
Despite the relapse, Becks later entered rehabilitation and has maintained a period of relative sobriety, attributing it to various life changes. She acknowledges SR-17018 may have played a role, but emphasizes the need for comprehensive support systems beyond experimental drugs.
