Abuses in Online Sales of Medication Part - I

Efforts have been made from time to time to curb such illicit trade but little could be achieved as internet is easily accessible. The issue has been keenly debated in several international conferences including an expert group meeting organised by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in Vienna in the recent past.

A large majority of 365 Internet sites that advertise or sell controlled medications by mail are offering to supply the drugs without a proper prescription, according to a new study. The online trade is stoking the rising abuse of addictive and dangerous prescription drugs, the authors and federal officials say.

Drugs offered online include generic versions of opiates like OxyContin, methadone and Vicodin, which are legitimately prescribed as painkillers; benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, which are prescribed for anxiety; and stimulants like Ritalin. Federal and state efforts to crack down on Internet sales appear to have reduced the number of sites offering such drugs, from 581 last year.

The Drug Enforcement Administration found that 85 percent of all Internet prescription sales involved controlled drugs, compared with just 11 percent of those filled through regular pharmacies, suggesting that online sales often are destined for misuse.