Beware: Patients increasingly purchasing medications via social media

Dangerous and illegal medicines are sold online through websites, but the problem does not stop there. Social media is quickly becoming place where consumers of all ages seeking drugs—illicit prescription—often with deadly results.According to National Association Boards Pharmacy, “Popular social platforms have emerged as a direct-to-consumer marketing tool for sellers.”A study in Health Policy from November 2021 found that lacked awareness dangers risks associated purchasing medications sources platforms. “When asked about why they purchase online, top motive do so was acquiring legitimate medications, followed by getting good deal on prescription medication,” said Saleem Alhabash, PhD, who part study's research team.The researchers also examined prevalence via well motivations such purchases. Study participants rated pharmacies retailers like Amazon “most safe” expressed highest confidence these bought medications. This Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, very little difference ratings pharmacies. Instant messaging services WhatsApp came last.Previous has shown there 50% chance any medication substandard, counterfeit, or falsified.“This our team believes well- informed purchased which increases health upon consuming especially at time during after COVID-19 pandemic, when booming practice buying been exponentially growing,” Michigan State University.For different types platforms, Alhabash participants’ responses exceeded scale midpoint, could indicate relatively moderate perceptions safety platforms.“Even least safe [platforms] trending direction,” John Hertig, PharmD, FASHP, lead author study. “To me real issue patient professional. We population doesn't understand inherent risk behind platforms.”Falling into trapAlhabash it's hard define exactly drugs sites since don't strong evidence their data.“However, looking use statistics, younger generations heaviest users media, it intuitive fall trap illegally,” he said.Their took account roughly 1,000 survey U.S. were 18 years old. The used cross-sectional Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers.Alhabash documented, anecdotally, diverse set strategies sellers falsified using sell consumers. From anecdotal research, leverage strategies, having ghost profiles promote content an algorithm find public posts comment links websites information related other accounts medications.High-risk medicationsHertig, chair pharmacy associate professor Butler University College Pharmacy Sciences, what startling.“They just illicit drugs, we seeing explosion too. These things we'd buy now being Snapchat without prescription,” said. “We know source [of them,] that's dangerous consumers.”According results, 54.6% respondents narcotics, 52% stimulants, 35.9% vaccines, 29.6% sedatives one platforms.“These high-risk medications,” Hertig.The logistic regressions predict drugs.“Safety predictive behaviors classes exception instant platforms,” Alhabash. “More importantly, platform did significantly types.”Alhabash noted strongest predictor stimulants narcotics however. “This tells us availability enhances alarming, often illegally used, sometimes recreationally, poses significant risks,” said.Hertig urged pharmacists become educated this topic ask patients might be picked up pharmacy.Continued shortages restricted access certain will only worsen problem, Hertig said.“Pharmacists can work if something shortage—we help solution go down path,” said.Illegal fentanylSocial prime marketplace people dealers peddle product, contaminated fentanyl.Young broadly lack extent fentanyl endemic drug supply, along extraordinary danger deadliness fentanyl, suggest findings technology companies Snap Inc. Morning Consult.Only one-half 1,449 poll knew counterfeit contain 27% teenage understood contamination may pose. According DEA, 4 out 10 lethal amounts fentanyl.Traffickers typically known emojis code words market individuals turn needs.In response criticism law enforcement families young died, some started increasing policing shuttering dealers’ accounts, redirecting addiction services, disrupt exchanges, conducting outreach.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT) results. sellers.” A team. last. Previous falsified. University. For “Even platforms.” Falling data. “However, Their workers. High-risk outreach. startling. “They consumers.” “These Hertig. drugs. “Safety types.” pharmacy. Continued “Pharmacists Illegal fentanyl. Young Consult. Only Traffickers needs. In