Prescription Drug Addiction and the Internet
One of the reasons for the recent rise in prescription drug addiction in the United States is the prevalence of online pharmacies selling drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin over the Internet. In many cases, individuals do not need a doctor's authorization to receive these potentially dangerous medications – instead, providing only a credit card number and shipping address to receive pills in the mail.
How is this happening? And more importantly, what is being done to prevent the spread of this problem in the years to come? The following information helps shed light on the problem of Internet pharmacies and how government agencies are attempting to tackle the issue at its core.
How do People Get Drugs on the Internet?
The process of obtaining prescription drugs illegally on the Internet is much easier than many people think. The individual visits a website or answers an email that offers a variety of different medications. Then, after a brief phone interview, where only the most cursory medical questions are asked, the individual provides their credit card number and shipping information. Once the information has been confirmed by the company, the drugs are shipped in the mail. No medical professionals are contacted and no effort is made to insure the safety of the "patient."
In some cases, the risk of shipping the actual medication is too great. In these cases, the online pharmacies will create elaborate scams that include a real doctor who writes a prescription, and then sends it to the individual for them to take to their local pharmacy.
The cost of medication from these pharmacies is high – often running as much as several dollars per pill (depending upon the medication).
Where are these Internet Pharmacies Located?
Often, the individual who is ordering the pills online will never know where their supplier is actually located. Instead, they will call a number that is technically located in the United States, but is likely being forward to another country such as Costa Rica, Mexico or Canada.
Why are Internet Pharmacies so Dangerous?
Almost anyone with a credit card and a shipping address can obtain medication from an Internet pharmacy. And that includes the following, high-risk individuals:
- Teens and adolescents
- Dual diagnosis patients
- Individuals with allergies
Add to that the risk of receiving tainted or unsealed medications and the risk grows exponentially. Individuals who order drugs illegally over the Internet are also at risk for being arrested themselves. Even high profile celebrities such as Rush Limbaugh have found themselves on the wrong side of the law because of ordering medications online to support their Vicodin addiction or OxyContin addiction.
What is Being Done to Curb this Problem?
Government agencies (including the DEA) are working hard to shut down these unlawful Internet pharmacies, and will arrest both the companies and the patients themselves in an effort to do so.
Michael's House is a residential drug rehabilitation facility located in Palm Springs, California. One of the finest addiction treatment facilities in California, Michael's House understands the unique needs of those individuals who have developed a dependence on prescription medications. Counselors and medical professionals at the facility work closely together to help the individual overcome the physical elements of their addiction – and teach the skills needed to maintain a drug-free life. Contact Michael's House today at for more information.
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