In today’s digital age, almost anything can be purchased online – from groceries and clothes to electronics and even medications. But when it comes to buying drugs online, many people are left wondering, “Can you buy drugs online?”
- In 2021, the San Diego County Medical Examiner reported 12 children under the age of 18 died from an accidental overdose — the youngest was just 13.
- For example, amphetamine use increased in Finland (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 2020), Norway, and Belgium (Been et al., 2021; EMCDDA, 2020a), and marijuana use reportedly increased, at least among more habituated users (EMCDDA, 2020a).
- More than a dozen states also have taken some kind of action against internet pharmacies, including Kansas, which last year prohibited several pharmacies from operating illegal web-based businesses within the state.
- You may know someone who knows someone, or you may just experiment and get lucky.
- The practical significance of this finding is limited by a small effect size.
The Risks of Buying Drugs Online
Dark Web Drug Sales
While the convenience of purchasing drugs online may seem appealing, there are several risks associated with doing so. One of the biggest concerns is the legality of buying prescription medications without a valid prescription. In many cases, online pharmacies may operate illegally and sell counterfeit or substandard medications.
The small number of Americans who have ordered prescription drugs online are likely to cite convenience and cost savings as the main reasons why they decided to take the leap. Privacy is the least likely factor of the choices offered in the survey. Below this hidden but non-inflammatory layer comes the dark web, the area of the internet researchers in the Texas study penetrated. Most estimates suggest at least 5% of all web content resides on the dark web. A 2015 study of dark web content found over 50% of all material hosted was illicit. The fact that dark web content is inaccessible to search engines like Google is an asset for anyone looking to buy or sell illegal narcotics online.
Additionally, there is a risk of falling victim to scams or fraud when buying drugs online. Some websites may claim to sell legitimate medications at discounted prices, only to send fake or expired products that can be harmful to your health.
However, since buying illegal drugs is a low base-rate behavior (only 7.27%, 7.23%, 8.05%, and 13.53% of participants self-reported it per data collection wave, respectively), a 100% increase chance from 10% is only an additional 10%. Meaning, while the odds ratios are high, they only result in a few percentage points increase in behavior. Although the increase in those purchasing drugs illegal online is significant in the last data collection wave, cautions in drawing dramatic conclusions from this are warranted. Another factor behind wealthy and highly educated individuals’ presence in online marketplaces may relate their relative online savviness and resources needed to do online transactions. Users need a stable internet connection, and must download specific browsers and buy cryptocurrency to be able to purchase on the dark web (Norbutas, 2018; Norbutas et al., 2020). To be comfortable arranging online transactions on the dark web, one needs to be familiar with customer reviews and judge seller and product reliability through social ties and a centralized reputation scoring system (see Diekmann et al., 2014; Jardine, 2021).
Just below 15% said they could not stop drinking once they had started at least monthly , while 17% reported feelings of guilt or regret after drinking at least monthly over the last year. Of the 7% who demonstrated dependency levels, only 39% recognised their drinking was dangerous, while 34.5% thought they drank an average or below-average amount. “The fact that 44% of respondents who had bought drugs online said they’d done it for the first time recently says to me there is growing recruitment,” he said. “It is currently a minority way to get drugs, but it really mimics the growth in e-commerce – we buy things online becuase it is convenient, cheap, and there is a better product range.”
Online Store
How to Safely Buy Drugs Online
If you are considering buying drugs online, it is important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the legitimacy of the medications you are purchasing. Here are some tips to help you safely buy drugs online:
Is Amazon Pharmacy cheaper than other pharmacies?
1. Consult with a Healthcare Provider
Before purchasing any medications online, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to obtain a valid prescription. Your healthcare provider can also help you identify reputable online pharmacies.
2. Research the Online Pharmacy
Before making a purchase, research the online pharmacy to ensure its legitimacy. Look for customer reviews, check if the website is licensed, and verify that they require a prescription for prescription medications.
You may qualify for financial help with your Kaiser Permanente care and prescriptions. “It’s possible the company may be able to identify your meds as counterfeit over the phone. It may be a known counterfeit lot number,” Callanan says. Company representatives can also tell you how to properly dispose of counterfeits. You can search the Buy Safely site for official drug disposal locations, too. If you suspect your medication is fake, most importantly, don’t take it.
COVID-19’s Influence on Drug Use
Across all four waves there were 4,653 participants, however, listwise deletion of missing data resulted in 60 respondents who did not respond to the drug question being dropped from the analysis. Listwise deletion was used because there were no discernable patterns related to the missing data as they appear to be missing at random. All samples were balanced according to census data on sex, ethnicity, and race. Online samples are generally found to be similar to random probability-based samples (MacInnis et al., 2018; Simmons & Bobo, 2015; Weinberg et al., 2014). This is especially true when strategies, such as eliminating those who take the survey too quickly, are utilized (Evans & Mathur, 2005; Wansink, 2001). A Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) spokesperson contended that drug sales are strictly prohibited on Instagram.
3. Avoid Suspicious Websites
Avoid websites that offer medications without a prescription or at unusually low prices. These could be signs of illegal operations or counterfeit products.
Conclusion
While it is possible to buy drugs online, it is crucial to exercise caution and prioritize your safety. By consulting with a healthcare provider, researching online pharmacies, and avoiding suspicious websites, you can reduce the risks associated with buying drugs online.
