Profiling online recreational/prescription drugs' customers and overview of drug vending virtual marketplaces

Laura Orsolini; Giulia Francesconi; Duccio Papanti; Arianna Giorgetti; Fabrizio Schifano

doi:10.1002/hup.2466

Profiling online recreational/prescription drugs' customers and overview of drug vending virtual marketplaces

Laura Orsolini, Giulia Francesconi, Duccio Papanti, Arianna Giorgetti, Fabrizio Schifano

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

18 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Internet and social networking sites play a significant role in the marketing and distribution of recreational/prescription drugs without restrictions. We aimed here at reviewing data relating to the profile of the online drug customer and at describing drug vending websites.

METHODS: The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched here in order to elicit data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the recreational marketplaces/online pharmacies' customers and the determinants relating to online drug purchasing activities.

RESULTS: Typical online recreational drugs' customers seem to be Caucasian, men, in their 20s, highly educated, and using the web to impact as minimally as possible on their existing work/professional status. Conversely, people without any health insurance seemed to look at the web as a source of more affordable prescription medicines. Drug vending websites are typically presented here with a "no prescription required" approach, together with aggressive marketing strategies.

CONCLUSIONS: The online availability of recreational/prescriptions drugs remains a public health concern. A more precise understanding of online vending sites' customers may well facilitate the drafting and implementation of proper prevention campaigns aimed at counteracting the increasing levels of online drug acquisition and hence intake activities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	302-18
Number of pages	17
Journal	Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
Volume	30
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2466
Publication status	Published - 28 Jul 2015

Keywords

Databases, Bibliographic
Drug and Narcotic Control
Female
Humans
Internet
Male
Prescription Drugs
Street Drugs
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

Access to Document

10.1002/hup.2466

Accepted ManuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 618 KB

Cite this

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title = "Profiling online recreational/prescription drugs' customers and overview of drug vending virtual marketplaces",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: Internet and social networking sites play a significant role in the marketing and distribution of recreational/prescription drugs without restrictions. We aimed here at reviewing data relating to the profile of the online drug customer and at describing drug vending websites.METHODS: The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched here in order to elicit data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the recreational marketplaces/online pharmacies' customers and the determinants relating to online drug purchasing activities.RESULTS: Typical online recreational drugs' customers seem to be Caucasian, men, in their 20s, highly educated, and using the web to impact as minimally as possible on their existing work/professional status. Conversely, people without any health insurance seemed to look at the web as a source of more affordable prescription medicines. Drug vending websites are typically presented here with a {"}no prescription required{"} approach, together with aggressive marketing strategies.CONCLUSIONS: The online availability of recreational/prescriptions drugs remains a public health concern. A more precise understanding of online vending sites' customers may well facilitate the drafting and implementation of proper prevention campaigns aimed at counteracting the increasing levels of online drug acquisition and hence intake activities.",

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note = "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Laura Orsolini, Giula Francesconi, Ducci Papanti, Arianna giorgetti, and Fabrizio Schifano, {\textquoteleft}Profiling online recreational/prescription drugs' customers and overview of drug vending virtual marketplaces{\textquoteright}, Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental, Vol. 30 (4): 302-318, July 2015, which has been published in final form at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2466. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.",

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AU - Giorgetti, Arianna

AU - Schifano, Fabrizio

N1 - This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Laura Orsolini, Giula Francesconi, Ducci Papanti, Arianna giorgetti, and Fabrizio Schifano, ‘Profiling online recreational/prescription drugs' customers and overview of drug vending virtual marketplaces’, Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental, Vol. 30 (4): 302-318, July 2015, which has been published in final form at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2466. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

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Y1 - 2015/7/28

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Internet and social networking sites play a significant role in the marketing and distribution of recreational/prescription drugs without restrictions. We aimed here at reviewing data relating to the profile of the online drug customer and at describing drug vending websites.METHODS: The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched here in order to elicit data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the recreational marketplaces/online pharmacies' customers and the determinants relating to online drug purchasing activities.RESULTS: Typical online recreational drugs' customers seem to be Caucasian, men, in their 20s, highly educated, and using the web to impact as minimally as possible on their existing work/professional status. Conversely, people without any health insurance seemed to look at the web as a source of more affordable prescription medicines. Drug vending websites are typically presented here with a "no prescription required" approach, together with aggressive marketing strategies.CONCLUSIONS: The online availability of recreational/prescriptions drugs remains a public health concern. A more precise understanding of online vending sites' customers may well facilitate the drafting and implementation of proper prevention campaigns aimed at counteracting the increasing levels of online drug acquisition and hence intake activities.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Internet and social networking sites play a significant role in the marketing and distribution of recreational/prescription drugs without restrictions. We aimed here at reviewing data relating to the profile of the online drug customer and at describing drug vending websites.METHODS: The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched here in order to elicit data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the recreational marketplaces/online pharmacies' customers and the determinants relating to online drug purchasing activities.RESULTS: Typical online recreational drugs' customers seem to be Caucasian, men, in their 20s, highly educated, and using the web to impact as minimally as possible on their existing work/professional status. Conversely, people without any health insurance seemed to look at the web as a source of more affordable prescription medicines. Drug vending websites are typically presented here with a "no prescription required" approach, together with aggressive marketing strategies.CONCLUSIONS: The online availability of recreational/prescriptions drugs remains a public health concern. A more precise understanding of online vending sites' customers may well facilitate the drafting and implementation of proper prevention campaigns aimed at counteracting the increasing levels of online drug acquisition and hence intake activities.

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KW - Drug and Narcotic Control

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KW - Humans

KW - Internet

KW - Male

KW - Prescription Drugs

KW - Street Drugs

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

KW - Review

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JO - Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

JF - Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

IS - 4

ER -

Profiling online recreational/prescription drugs' customers and overview of drug vending virtual marketplaces

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