In the days before the internet, and mostly for the early days of the web, drugs were challenging to get. You had to know a guy, who knows a guy, and meet up in-person, in potentially shady settings. Now, the internet has made it easier than ever to get access to drugs without any prescription or worry in the world. It began with the Silk Road website in the 2000s, a black web drug site, which was eventually seized by the United States government.
You may have thought that was the peak of the internet drug trade, but it has arguably become worse. Now, drug dealers are blatantly using fake online pharmacies and search engine loopholes to peddle their products to people. That includes everything from cocaine and meth to barbiturates and fentanyl.
They appear to be legitimate websites, with highly professional physicians, but in most cases, a search of these companies shows they have no real office or standing in the medical community. Elaine Mallon of the Washington Examiner says this has gone on for a long time but is out of control now.
"There are some websites the FDA has flagged, and they are still in operation," she says.
In some of the cases as well, the drugs sent out have been laced with fentanyl, which has become a killer all on its own in the country.
It also has another byproduct, and that is preying on innocent Americans. People's wallets have been hammered for four years under the Biden Administration, and they have understandably been looking elsewhere for cheaper prescription drugs. But in these cases, they get looped into a criminal scheme that could cause them more harm than good.
But you do not find these links on shady websites, either. They are on legitimate ones, even government websites.
"You can go on disasterassistance.gov and type 'buy cocaine,' and the website will come up with a user generated page directing someone on where to buy the drugs," she says.
Also entangled in this would be Google, who is government owned as well. Many of these drug selling websites can be accessed with a simple search online, and up pops a website to buy drugs.
"They need more regulations...the fact you can easily track down cocaine off a google search is concerning," says Mallon.
Yet, Google vows they are stringent and they do not censor or promote abhorrent content. Might be crazy, but fake websites run by drug dealers selling fentanyl-laced cocaine seems like something that should be banned and cracked down upon. But here we sit, discussing the issue still continuing.
As for how to avoid being hoodwinked by these bad actors, Mallon adds you can look to see if the website lists the prices of pills. Pharmacies do not do that, therefore it makes them easier to identify and avoid.