ILLICIT ONLINE PHARMACIES
You can follow them on social media, but you can’t follow them to Craigslist, online pharmacy sites, and the dark web, nor can you see their texts and IMs. But if you have access to their physical devices, you can check their browser history, see their text and IM apps, and check out any tools or software they’re using. If you’re the parent of a teen, you’ve probably worried about them getting hooked on social media. Drug dealers have found their way onto your teen’s favorite platforms, and they might have easier access than ever to drugs. Take a look at what you need to know about drugs on social media and how to protect your teen.
Understanding the Landscape of Online Drug Purchases
Some online pharmacies originated in high-risk countries such as Pakistan where individuals have been prosecuted for illegal importation of opioids. If it is illegal drugs that you are after, then you are not going to find them for sale on the part of the internet most of us spend time on. Most of us only use the surface web, sites that can be accessed via search engines such as Google. The “Dark Web” forms part of the deep web, sites that are hidden, encrypted, and can only be accessed using authorisation codes, specific software, and specialised routing networks such as Tor – created to navigate the dark web, or as it is also called the darknet. Silk Road, AlphaBay, Dream Market and Wall Street Market were some of these marketplaces that have since been taken down. All of these sites were large global dark web marketplaces that functioned like conventional e-commerce websites but were geared towards the trafficking of contraband.
Buying drugs online has become increasingly common in today’s digital world. However, it is crucial to understand the implications and risks associated with this practice.
Legal Implications
Before exploring where to buy drugs online, it’s essential to consider the legal aspects. Buying controlled substances without a prescription is illegal in most countries.
- Many online pharmacies do not require prescriptions, which may indicate illegal activity.
- Legal repercussions can include fines and imprisonment.
- Purchasing from illicit sources may lead to receiving counterfeit or harmful products.
The dark web model endures because it offers great efficiencies to dealers and users. Since the demise of Wall Street and Dream, two new markets, Empire and Nightmare – which both opened over a year ago – have grown rapidly as users have migrated over from closed sites. Today, Empire has over 28,000 drug listings and Nightmare has over 60,000. In the summer of 2017, Dream market, the second-biggest at that time, had just 48,000 deals. Additionally, mental health care for people of all ages in San Diego is available at Sharp. Expert medical teams treat anxiety, depression, substance use, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and more.
The purpose of social media algorithms is to push content that they believe an individual wants to view based on their activity on the platform. For instance, if users are actively searching for a particular drug through hashtags, they’re likely to connect with another dealer or another user who’s affiliated. “However, we strongly disagree with how our brand is categorized here and we have been in contact with Attorney General Weiser’s office to refute the inaccurate claims in this report,” Whaling said.
A study on fake ID statistics found that about 12.5% of high school graduates use a fake ID to purchase alcohol before they start college. That number jumps dramatically to 32.2% when they are sophomore college students. Research indicates that those who have a fake ID are much more likely to be heavy drinkers than those who do not. Aside from vaping — which has skyrocketed among students in recent years — teenage use of most drugs has been decreasing for several years in a row. Underage drinking has also slowly declined recently, while teenage marijuana use has remained more or less the same. If the evidence against you is persuasive – and you are going to be convicted – attorney David C. Hardaway will negotiate for reduced or alternative sentencing.
The 182-page report outlined the ways in which drug dealers use aggressive marketing tactics to sell illegal drugs online, often targeting younger customers, and urged social media platforms and state legislators to enforce new policies to crack down on the sales. Police presence on the street continued to be heavy and border controls became more robust (UNODC, 2021), and border patrol seized more drug shipments in the first months of the pandemic than in the three months before the pandemic (UNODC, 2021). Because of the pandemic induced lockdown orders, individuals stayed home and shifted many of their daily activities online. On the now-empty streets, dealers and buyers would become significantly more visible.
Well, not in my lifetime, but If time travel does become a possibility, then I would love to see a world once more where connection and education is ‘our’ experience, not something we see on Tik Tok. As a result, in November 2022, measures that were intended to force big technology platforms to take down “legal but harmful” materials were removed from the Online Safety Bill. Instead, platforms will be obliged to introduce systems that will allow the users to better filter out the harmful content they don’t want to see. This will not be news to many but you might be surprised how young people are advertising on their Snapchat for you to add them to their Telegram account. Telegram first hit the global news in terms of a drug market when it was published in the recent edition of the Global Drugs Survey 2021. It highlighted that a dark web digital market called ‘Televend’ was operating on there.
Common Places to Purchase Drugs Online
If one were to explore where to buy drugs online, there are several types of platforms to consider:
- Online Pharmacies: Legitimate pharmacies require prescriptions and operate under strict regulations.
- Dark Web Markets: Anonymity is a key feature; however, risks include scams and poor-quality drugs.
- Social Media Platforms: Some users leverage these for connections, but this is highly risky and illegal.
Factors to Consider When Buying Drugs Online
- In a prominent example, Lazer et al.4 described the fall of Google Flu Trends, which was created to predict rates of influenza-like illness from the volume of certain search terms.
- In addition, reminding teens to think twice before posting anything can help protect them from embarrassment.
- “I found URLs for Empire and Nightmare in then minutes, and then I found my usual vendor and scored ten tabs of LSD and 7g of MDMA ready for Glastonbury.”
- To win back his ex-girlfriend, a nerdy teen starts selling ecstasy online out of his bedroom — and becomes one of Europe’s biggest dealers.
When determining where to buy drugs online, consider the following:
- Verification: Ensure the website is legitimate and requires a prescription.
- Reviews: Check user reviews and experiences to gauge reliability.
- Safety: Look for websites that have secure payment options and privacy policies.
FAQs
Is it safe to buy drugs online?
No, purchasing drugs from unverified sources can pose significant health risks.
What should I do if I receive counterfeit drugs?
Contact health authorities and avoid consuming the product. Report the website if applicable.
How can I find a legitimate online pharmacy?
Look for pharmacies accredited by organizations such as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
Conclusion
In summary, while there are numerous options regarding where to buy drugs online, it is vital to prioritize safety, legality, and your health. Always conduct thorough research and consult with healthcare professionals before making any decisions.
