Ellen Campbell-Grizzle - PHARMACY TODAYRECENT RESEARCH has sharpened concern about the use of the Internet to procure controlled prescription drugs.
The National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in the United States (US) conducted a study that put the problem in perspective. During one week of analysis, researchers identified 495 websites advertising controlled prescription drug sales; 338 portal sites that led to another site for purchase of such drugs and 157 anchor sites that directly sold dangerous and addictive drugs. Substances frequently
available include painkillers such as Oxycontin, Percocet, Darvon and Vicodin; stimulants such as Dexedrine, Ritalin and Adderall; and depressants such as Valium and Xanax.
NO RESTRICTION
The study stated that only six per cent of the websites selling drugs requested a prescription and not one single site placed any restriction on the sale of these dangerous and addictive drugs to children. Forty-seven per cent of the drugs would be shipped from outside the United States, 28 per cent offered products from the US while 25 per cent gave no indication of origin.
Health officials in the US fear that the Internet predators post a threat to the safe delivery of medicines and that children are very vulnerable. All that a child needs is the parent's credit card information, which is sometimes stored on the home PC.
Pharmacists in Jamaica are uneasy about the potential for the Internet to be misused in this way. Pharmacists are also concerned about the potential for wholesalers to purchase these drugs from the Internet. Through this means, counterfeit drugs can be introduced into any country. In Jamaica, pharmacists purchase from distributors registered by the health authorities. This approach strengthens the security of the national medication distribution chain.
NEW PHENOMENON
Pushing drugs on the Internet is a new phenomenon. Laws and regulations have not yet been put in place to deal with this activity. Websites can disappear without a trace. In the case of adverse events, it would be almost impossible to find the suppliers. In all of this, it is good to recognise that the Internet offers great possibilities to expand access to medication and expand competition. The dilemma is how to best use this valuable communication asset while at the same time protecting public health and safety.
The Jamaican consumer is well placed to ensure that theses drug pushers do not succeed. It is good advice at this time, not to buy medication from the Internet and always purchase your medication from registered pharmacies. Parents should monitor the Internet activities of their children and be vigilant about the use of their credit cards. Customs officers need to be on alert for drugs procured through these sites. So far, this problem is not a major one in Jamaica. Let us keep it that way!
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information & Research, National Council
on Drug Abuse.
