The convenience and international reach of the internet enhances the lives of many; but for those addicted to drugs, it poses grave danger. A prescription drug-dependent person simply needs to visit a website, find his or her drug-of-choice such as Ritalin, Ambien, Xanax, or morphine, charge it on the credit card—and the deadly drugs will be delivered to their door.
How it Works
A search for an online pharmacy locates a source for the prescription drugs. It can be done with no doctor consultation, and no prescription request. For those addicted to federally controlled Schedule 4 drugs that require a prescription, it is a way to circumvent the system designed to protect against abuse and misuse of highly addictive narcotic prescription drugs.
According to those purchasing their drugs online, online pharmacies do not seem to care about what you order, or when you order. Like with any drug dealing–it’s all about the money.
In years past, online pharmacies dispensed federally controlled drugs with impunity. The U.S. laws governing controlled substances and how they were distributed were drafted in the 1970s, prior to the advent of the internet and online sales. As a result, there were no explicit prohibitions written into the laws to prevent the prescribing and distribution of controlled substances by online pharmacies.
A recent National Association of Boards of Pharmacy survey of more than 10,500 online pharmacy sites found that 88% of them did not require prescriptions. Another 9% of the internet pharmacy sites were operating in violation of pharmacy practice standards and laws. The results are that ninety-seven percent of online pharmacies are either breaking federal law, or in some way compromising the safety and security of the consumer.
The Ryan Haight Act
Eighteen-year-old Ryan Haight died of a Vicodin overdose in February of 2001. When Ryan’s mother found-out that her son had purchased the drugs on the internet, she sent Ryan’s computer to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The computer records revealed that the Vicodin had been purchased by Ryan at an online pharmacy—and they delivered the deadly drugs right to his home.
Congress passed the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 as a result of what happened to Ryan. Effective in April, 2009, the Ryan Haight Act provides that no controlled substance that is determined to be a prescription drug under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act “may be delivered, distributed, or dispensed” via the internet without a valid prescription. A valid prescription is identified as one written by an individual who has had at least one visit in-person with the individual receiving the prescription.
Each online pharmacy homepage is also required to list the name of its affiliated pharmacist and his/her licensing information; the pharmacy’s full name, address and telephone number; and certification that it is licensed to deliver controlled substances by means of the internet.
Unfortunately, enforcement of the Ryan Haight Law is incomplete. It is a U.S. law, and a majority of online pharmacies are overseas operations. The drugs might come from India, or Pakistan—or the U.K. Tracking-down rogue pharmacies presents difficulties and challenges, but the DEA has a long arm, and it could be done. The U.S. market is reached through websites, many of which are likely hosted with the U.S.; and these overseas drug-dealing pharmacies rely on U.S. payment processors, domain name registrars and hosting, and shipping services to get their drugs to the end-user.
A Farewell Obituary
Clay William Shephard of Apex, North Carolina, died of a drug overdose on May 17th, 2015. He was 22-years old. The drugs that killed him came from an online pharmacy. An excerpt from his profoundly moving obituary reads:
This note isn’t an attempt to assign blame for Clay’s death. It’s not to vent our anger and frustration at a world where drugs can be ordered and delivered through the internet. We write this obituary in hope that it may provide an insight to those that need to change their behavior one night at a time.