The typical online transaction includes a doctor’s prescription, a U.S.-based pharmacy, and satisfied customers. A total of 425 participants completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 99% (425/428), three participants entered the Google Form, but did not finish. Almost all participants, 419 (98.6%) use the internet daily, 2 (0.5%) weekly and 4 (0.9%) monthly. However, only 79 (18.6%) participants shop online regularly, 297 (69.9%) shopped few times and 49 (11.5%) have never shopped online. General and sociodemographic characteristics of the participants are shown in table 1. The participants involved in the pilot study were contacted to provide feedback on the questions and different aspects of the questionnaire.
Buying drugs online can be a convenient and discreet way to obtain medications, but it is important to do so safely and legally. With the proliferation of online pharmacies, it can be challenging to know which ones are legitimate and which ones are operating illegally.
One of the best is the NABP website, which accredits those online pharmacies that comply with U.S. laws and pharmacy-practice standards. The NABP requires an application and charges a fee for accreditation, and only a small fraction of online pharmacies have been accredited through this process. Consumers looking for more options also can visit , which is recommended by the NABP because it applies similar standards in evaluating websites. Leaked information has recently revealed several large-scale hacking incidents involving prominent online pharmacies GlavMed, SpamIt and RX-Promotion. Hackers broke into the sales databases of these companies and stole customers’ private information, potentially including credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and contact information.
Illegal Online Pharmacies Threaten Public Health
Research Online Pharmacies
When looking to purchase drugs online, it is essential to do your research. Look for online pharmacies that are licensed and certified by regulatory bodies. Avoid websites that offer drugs without a prescription or that have suspiciously low prices.
Report Problem Sites
Check for Legitimacy
Others reported falling victim to the notorious volatility of the cryptographic currencies such as Bitcoin that many darknet sites use. Just under a third (31%) of those who had used darknet markets within the last 12 months reported doing so. Violence and threats were also more likely outside of darknet marketplaces, with 7% saying they had experienced physical violence buying from their alternative source, compared with 1% on the darknet.
Before making a purchase, verify that the online pharmacy is legitimate. Look for contact information such as a physical address and phone number. Additionally, check for customer reviews and ratings to ensure the pharmacy has a good reputation.
How to Safely Buy Medicine Online
At WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug rehab center, we have addiction treatment programs that can help you stop using drugs and alcohol for good. We provide treatments like mental health care, prescription drug detox, cognitive behavioral therapy, holistic treatments, exercise plans, group therapy sessions, educational seminars, etc. More than 11,750 respondents said they had purchased drugs online, both on conventional websites and on “darknet” sites like Silk Road that require encryption software to access.
Use a Secure Payment Method
How to Order Drugs Legally and Safely From an Internet Drug Store
When buying drugs online, always use a secure payment method such as a credit card or a reputable online payment service. Avoid using wire transfers or prepaid cards, as these methods are often associated with fraudulent transactions.
How Teens Get Drugs and Alcohol
Consult Your Doctor
- Prescription drugs available from
- Marijuana is also being mixed with things such as embalming fluid, or the hallucinogen PCP, according to Partnership to End Addiction.
- 45% of respondents erroneously believe all websites offering health care services and prescription medications via the internet are safe.
- Use of the dark web requires special access, software and complex configurations.
- The majority of the internet (an estimated 95 percent) exists within the deep web, unindexed by search engines like Google and Bing.
Before purchasing any medication online, consult with your healthcare provider. Your doctor can provide guidance on the proper dosage and usage of the drug you are considering purchasing. They can also help you identify potential side effects or interactions with other medications.
When is a Medicine Not a Medicine?
It appears that as the pandemic wore on users who had not previously made online purchases turned to online purchases as a means of securing their drugs. This conclusion is consistent with other known facts about changes in the drug market after the pandemic. Buying medications from these illegal online pharmacies is very dangerous. In benign cases, these businesses might simply be providing sugar pills. In more serious cases, these medications may contain highly toxic or even deadly substances. Additionally, there is no quality control to guarantee the actual dosage of a medication purchased through these retailers, making an overdose a very real possibility.
By following these guidelines, you can safely and legally purchase drugs online. Remember to always prioritize your health and well-being when buying medications over the internet.
