Web RX: The Dangers of Online Pharmacies
It's not just the obvious risk that people who shouldn't be using prescription drugs will be obtaining them on the internet. There's also a lack of education about the dangers of the drugs being sold (ie mixing with alcohol). Don't forget about the lack of quality control of the drugs...
The internet has been an incredible advancement for most industries. Companies now have an unprecedented ability to reach customers all over the world with their products and services. This can be an incredible asset in most situations. However there are some downsides to this kind of technological advancement.
The anonymity of the internet gives many individuals and companies from all over the world the opportunity to provide products that aren’t exactly what they claimed they would be. If you are ordering a used coffee table off of Craigslist and it doesn’t end up matching the picture, it’s not the end of the world. But when it comes to ordering your prescription drugs, if they don’t deliver as promised, it can kill you.
The use of websites for ordering prescription medications has several dangers, one of which is the lack of security regarding who can purchase the medications. A report released in 2008 by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University showed that 85% of web sites selling prescription meds online did not require a doctor’s prescription. This means anyone could just go online and with the a few clicks of a mouse and a credit card, order as many highly-addictive and potentially dangerous drugs, like Oxycontin, Vicodin and Valium without ever consulting a physician.
Some sites give the illusion of legitimacy by having the user “consult” with an online physician, but because of the nature of the internet, often this consultation is not an actual medical review, but instead a way to charge the user an extra fee and to convince them that the product they are shipped is reliable.
In many cases, people order off of the internet because it is simply cheaper to order (up to 80% cheaper in some cases) from overseas distributors. In many other cases, however, this ability to purchase medications without a prescription can lead to an easy method for people with addictions to fulfill their needs.
Unfortunately, this leads to people who may not otherwise have continued down the path of addiction, simply because they weren’t willing to go through the steps of finding an illegal dealer or go “doctor shopping”, to begin to feed their habit. Many people can’t resist the urge once their legitimate prescriptions run out. The casual thought of wondering if they could get their Oxycontin somewhere other than their doctor, who rightly won’t prescribe it to them anymore, can easily turn into a full blown addiction problem once they discover how easy it is to order online.
Lack of Quality Control of Pharmaceutical Drugs
Another serious issue with online pharmacies is the lack of quality control regarding the product they send. Since many are international, and do not go through the rigorous standards performed by the FDA, they could be sending the purchaser anything and claim that it is something else. They could be contaminated, their potency could be either too strong or too weak, they could be expired, or they may have been stored improperly.
This is not to say that all online pharmacies are not trustworthy. As a customer, one just needs to follow some guidelines to make sure that you are going to a reputable site. The FDA provides an extensive list of suggestions here.
Getting Help for An Addicted Person
The risk for overdose is very high with prescription medications. Particularly people who are addicted to alcohol or combine the drugs with alcohol will be at risk. Please call us at 866-540-5242 if you are concerned about your prescription drug use or the drug use of someone you care about.
