How People Buy Drugs Off The Internet
Understanding the Question: Can You Buy Drugs Online?
Drugs weren’t all you could get on Silk Road, though they dominated the market. One 19-year-old user I interviewed only wanted a fake ID so she could drink alcohol. She found Silk Road far more appealing than dredging around her college town for a sketchy guy with an X-Acto knife and a laminating machine. By July 2013, after months of investigation, the bureau had located Silk Road’s servers in Iceland. The Reykjavik Metropolitan Police seized the site’s guts and handed over copies of the contents to their American colleagues. On October 2 of that year, the feds shut Silk Road down, keeping nearly 30,000 Bitcoin-worth around $3.7 million at the time, $13 million as this goes to press-that had been left in vendor and customer accounts.
The rise of the internet has revolutionized numerous aspects of life, including how people access medications and substances. This has led to the compelling question: can you buy drugs online?
Recently, a Nordic project used qualitative interviews and a digital ethnographic approach to analyze the phenomenon in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Findings indicated that drugs were sold via Facebook in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, but not in Finland and Norway, where other social media services such as Instagram were utilized (Bakken & Demant, 2019; Demant et al., 2019). Over the past decade, many illegal online pharmacies began utilizing social media platforms to expand their customer reach. Along with creating thousands of domain names to avoid the forced removal of their websites by authorities, criminal organizations will create many different social media accounts, switching from platform to platform to avoid being reported. These criminals use social media accounts not only as a method to sell drugs but to advertise their illegal businesses as well.
Types of Drugs Available Online
To learn more about KLG and how we can help you, contact us today or click here for a free consultation. How to get helpIf parents believe their child is experiencing social-emotional challenges or might already be using illicit substances, Dr. Bradshaw recommends they seek treatment from a trained mental health professional. They can start with their child’s or teen’s primary care doctor to discuss any concerns and determine what type of treatment might be appropriate. Throughout the pandemic, more kids turned to social media to connect with others when in-person connection was challenging, if not impossible. But along with interacting with friends, some kids began communicating with people offering the opportunity to purchase drugs, many of which can be delivered directly to their homes. During this same period, the CDC found the rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids increased over 56%.
Rogue sites either sell unapproved goods or circumvent established consumer protection procedures if they sell approved goods. Some sites only require customers to fill out a questionnaire before ordering prescription drugs, avoiding any face-to-face interaction with a health professional. With the popularity of social media, there is increased access to illegal drugs. Parents and caregivers should be aware of how they can spread the message and teach young adults about medication safety. More drug users are buying their drugs online – including so-called legal highs as well as illegal drugs such as cannabis and MDMA – because they say the quality is better, there is more choice and it is more convenient, research has found. If you’ve ever considered buying drugs on the dark web, be aware that law enforcement agencies are fully aware of what’s going on.
Assuming there was an increased use of online drug markets, the question remains why this happened during the pandemic. There are several plausible explanations, but two seem to be particularly likely. The first possible reason is that users adapted to the changing market and turned to online purchases in response to decreased opportunities to obtain their drugs of choice using traditional, face-to-face offline purchases. The second possible reason is that there was greater demand for drugs as COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns led to heightened strains.
When discussing the possibility of purchasing drugs online, it’s important to differentiate between various categories:
As a result, scammers who take lots of money for “drugs” and never deliver can trivially move from one site to another without incurring significant infrastructure costs, or any significant fear of being permanently banned. Paul Wallin is one of the most highly respected attorneys in Southern California. His vast experience, zealous advocacy for his clients and extensive knowledge of many areas of the law make Mr. Wallin a premiere Southern California attorney.Mr. As the senior partner of Wallin & Klarich, Mr. Wallin has been successfully representing clients for more than 30 years. Clients come to him for help in matters involving assault and battery, drug crimes, juvenile crimes, theft, manslaughter, sex offenses, murder, violent crimes, misdemeanors and felonies.
- Prescription Medications: These are drugs that require a doctor’s prescription and are typically available through licensed online pharmacies.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications: Commonly used drugs that can be purchased without a prescription, like pain relievers or cold medications.
- Illegal Substances: Drugs that are banned or regulated by law and are often sold on illicit platforms.
Moms like Amy Neville say they’ll continue to call for change at the federal level to hold social media companies accountable. “As parents, we had tools, we had resources. We were taking action,” Neville said. “Again, we did not know about Fentanyl. And we did not know about the depth of harms on social media.”
- Medicines that you buy online from sources that are not regulated can be either too strong or too weak.
- Studies have shown that users of cryptomarkets are most commonly males in their 20s.
- NABP has identified more than 40,000 websites that fail to comply with NABP patient safety and pharmacy practice standards, or applicable laws.
- If there is no logo, you can be almost certain that the online shop is selling medicines illegally or is located outside the EU, and that is problematic since it is illegal for you to have medicines sent to you in Denmark from non-EU/EEA countries.
- It highlighted that a dark web digital market called ‘Televend’ was operating on there.
Legal & Safety Considerations
Before proceeding to buy drugs online, a few vital points must be considered:
- Licensing: Ensure the pharmacy is licensed and follows your country’s legal regulations.
- Quality Assurance: Legitimate online pharmacies will require a prescription and provide verifiable information about their products.
- Risks of Illegal Purchases: Buying illegal drugs online poses significant risks, including legal repercussions and health dangers.
How to Buy Drugs Online Safely
If you’ve determined that you need medications, here’s a guide to purchasing them online:
- Consult a Doctor: Always discuss with a healthcare provider to ensure the medication is appropriate for your condition.
- Research Online Pharmacies: Look for accredited pharmacies, such as those certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
- Check Reviews: Read reviews and testimonials from other customers to gauge the reliability of the pharmacy.
- Verify Prices: Compare prices with local pharmacies to avoid inflated costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Buy Prescription Drugs Online Without a Prescription?
No, purchasing prescription drugs online without a valid prescription is illegal and can lead to serious health risks.
Are Online Pharmacies Regulated?
Yes, many countries have regulatory bodies that oversee online pharmacies to ensure they operate legally and safely.
What Should I Do If I Receive the Wrong Medication?
Contact the pharmacy immediately and do not consume the medication. They should have a return and exchange policy in place.
Is It Safe to Buy Medications on Social Media Platforms?
It is not advisable to purchase medications through social media as the sellers often lack verification and can be illegal.
In conclusion, while the internet offers numerous opportunities for accessing medications, understanding the legal and safety implications is crucial. Thus, the answer to the question, can you buy drugs online, hinges on responsible practices and adherence to legal standards.