If you’re considering buying drugs online, it’s important to do so safely. With the rise of online pharmacies, it’s easier than ever to get the medication you need without leaving your home. However, not all online pharmacies are legitimate, and some may even sell counterfeit or dangerous drugs. Here’s how to buy drugs online safely:
What they do not tell you is that it is dangerous to take a prescription drug without being examined in person and monitored by a healthcare practitioner to make sure the drug is helping you. Teens may also turn to the dark web to purchase illegal drugs or medications without a prescription. The dark web is an encrypted subsection of the internet that is inaccessible without special software or authorization.
1. Check for Legitimacy
Before buying drugs online, make sure the pharmacy is legitimate. Look for signs of legitimacy, such as a physical address, a phone number, and a licensed pharmacist on staff. You can also check if the pharmacy is accredited by organizations like the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program.
2. Check for a Prescription
Legitimate online pharmacies will require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider before dispensing medication. Be wary of any pharmacy that doesn’t require a prescription or offers to sell prescription drugs without one. This is a red flag and could indicate that the pharmacy is selling counterfeit or illegal drugs.
3. Check the Price
Dark Web Drug Sales
While it’s true that online pharmacies often offer lower prices than brick-and-mortar pharmacies, be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. If the price is significantly lower than other online pharmacies or your local pharmacy, it could be a sign that the drugs are counterfeit or of poor quality.
4. Check the Medication
Some of these drugs include ingredients you wouldn’t want to put in your body — things like talcum powder, paint, and printer ink. You can safely buy medicine online if you use online pharmacies recommended by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. This organization verifies Internet drugstores throughout the United States and most Canadian provinces. In 1974, an Australian television reporter asked science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke what the year 2001 might be like for his young son. It has transformed our routines of buying and selling goods and services, displacing brick-and-mortar stores, and rendering the suburban mall a near anachronism. Like virtually all commercial venues in human history, the Internet also has become a means to buy and sell contraband—namely, drugs.
Before taking any medication you’ve purchased online, make sure it’s the correct medication and dosage. Check the label for any misspellings or inconsistencies, and compare it to the medication you were prescribed by your healthcare provider. If you’re unsure, contact the pharmacy or your healthcare provider for clarification.
5. Use a Secure Payment Method
Can They Search My Package Without A Warrant?
When buying drugs online, use a secure payment method, such as a credit card or PayPal. Avoid wire transfers or other forms of payment that can’t be traced or reversed. This will help protect you from fraud or scams.
How People Buy Drugs Online
There are concerns about the platforms being used for online bullying and inappropriate sexual messaging, as well as used by adult predators to contact youths. Ultimately, the Internet presents many tempting opportunities to shop for drugs that would be more expensive or harder to obtain through traditional channels. Yet these opportunities come with a hidden price tag, as unpredictable risks force some shoppers to pay more than they bargained for in terms of damage to their health and finances. You can reduce these risks by going to your doctor for a prescription and shopping only at the websites that have been verified by a trustworthy source. Ultimately, however, the surest and simplest way to buy safe, quality drugs is to shop at your local pharmacy. Leaked information has recently revealed several large-scale hacking incidents involving prominent online pharmacies GlavMed, SpamIt and RX-Promotion.
6. Keep Your Personal Information Private
Marijuana is also being mixed with things such as embalming fluid, or the hallucinogen PCP, according to Partnership to End Addiction. We often have adults tell us that they have attended the social media & drugs course, both as a professional and parent. Concerns are raised and questions asked how they can best protect their young people. We talk about apps that you can download for the sole purpose of monitoring the activity on a young persons phone. The idea can seem very invasive for the young person but if there is an agreement between parent and child then these apps can be useful in protecting the welfare of young people.
When buying drugs online, be cautious about sharing your personal information. Only provide the minimum amount of information necessary to complete the transaction. Avoid sharing sensitive information like your social security number or bank account information.
7. Report Suspicious Activity
- At the time, it reported that 24% of young people aged said they saw the sale of illicit drugs on social media.
- Although invisible to common web browsers, the Deep Web is not dangerous.
- The practice of pharmacy in Canada is regulated by the provinces, and any licensed pharmacy that offers Internet services must meet the standards of practice within its own province.
- Whether new legislation will improve oversight of online pharmacies remains to be seen.
If you suspect that an online pharmacy is selling counterfeit or illegal drugs, report it to the NABP or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This will help protect other consumers from falling victim to fraud or dangerous drugs.
Buying drugs online can be a convenient and cost-effective way to get the medication you need. However, it’s important to do so safely to avoid falling victim to fraud or dangerous drugs. By following these tips, you can ensure that you’re buying drugs online safely and effectively.
