Drug Abuse and the Internet
The Internet has made life easier in a variety of ways. For example, it is now possible to pay bills without mailing a letter, or buy holiday gifts without leaving the house. But as most people know, there is a dark side to the Internet – and no place is that on more prominent display than in the world of online pharmacies.
Online pharmacies are fueling the relationship between drug abuse and the Internet. Each day, more and more prescription drug addicts (and potential addicts) are given improper access to their drug of "choice" – even when doing so may be putting their lives in danger.
This all comes with little or no oversight – as these online pharmacies are usually no more than a storefront or warehouse in a nearby country. The result? Potentially unsafe medications being delivered to the very people who should be receiving professional care for their drug addiction.
How People Gets Drugs on the Internet
It is so easy for individuals to get prescription medications over the Internet that police are essentially helpless to combat the problem. In many cases, a doctor's prescription is not even required (while in other cases only a cursory phone interview is needed) to begin receiving the medication. An individual simply supplies their credit card and shipping address, and then receives the actual pills in the mail. No health checks, no pre-existing condition information obtained and no checks to insure that the patient isn't a minor.
The Dangers of Drug Abuse and the Internet
Obviously, shipping dangerous, potentially addictive medication to individuals illegally poses a grave threat to everyone involved. However, the problem of drugs online goes deeper than that. Other significant dangers include:
- Tampering. There is no way to know who has tampered with medication sent over the Internet. They may not have packaged or prepared in a controlled environment. Tampering presents a serious health risk to the individual who receives the pills.
- Incorrect Medication. In the world of Internet pharmacies, counterfeiting and switching medication types is commonplace. The end user may take a drug thinking it is a certain dosage or medication, and actually end up ingesting something totally different.
- Addiction. Individuals who are addicted to prescription drugs or experimenting with them will see their problems worsen once they have unchecked access to medications such as Vicodin, OxyContin and other potentially addicting substances.
- Minors. Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of online pharmacies is the ready-access it gives teenagers to prescription medications. There are no "age checks" online, and if a teenager has their parent's credit card and personal information, they can receive medication without verification. Experts agree that prescription drug addiction is one of the fastest growing narcotics problems among young people. Much of this growth is being fueled online by these illicit businesses.
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