The opioid epidemic has had a far-reaching impact, not just on users but on the manufacturers and doctors who distribute it. Most people who become addicted to opioids begin taking them for innocuous reasons, such as pain from an injury or surgery, but the addiction can develop quickly. The likelihood that you’ll develop a long-term dependence on opioids rises exponentially after just five days of use, which is one of the reasons the government has cracked down on the over-prescription of these drugs. Unfortunately, this means that people who are addicted and desperately searching for their next fix are turning to other, illegal means of obtaining it.
Enter the darknet (sometimes called the dark web), a peer-to-peer network that is only available with special software, where users can remain anonymous. Things hidden on the darknet will not show up in a Google or any other search, and you’re unlikely to find your way in unless someone already in the know points you in the right direction. If you did find your way in, the things you’re likely to find include pedophiles, credit card scammers, forged documents, fake currency, weapons dealers, gambling sites, hacked login details, and of course drugs. Purchases are made using crypto-currency, such as bitcoin. This is a kind of electronic cash, which can be transferred directly from person to person without any kind of intermediaries like a bank or PayPal.
Ironically, one of the main pieces of darknet software, called Tor, was originally developed by and for the United States government, and there are still “innocent” people who use the darknet, such as whistleblowers, political dissidents, and secretive government agencies. The criminal element, however, finds this anonymity perfect for trafficking in illegal products and services.
The illegal drug market is mostly focused on synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. These synthetics are more potent than the prescription versions, and by buying illegally users can get more product at once, pay less, and have it conveniently delivered. Gangs that sell drugs are increasingly turning away from smuggling over the Mexican border and buying online from places like China.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the number of people buying and selling drugs online increased by about 50 percent between September 2013 and January 2016. A study by the Université de Montréal concluded that the increased market share of prescription opioids on the darknet was directly tied to the U.S. government re-classifying opioid drugs and making them harder to obtain legally. The online sale of these prescription drugs did not increase markedly in other countries. The result, they say, is clear – tightening regulations on opioids has only led to more people buying them illegally, and not a drop in prescription abuse as the government had hoped.
If you or a loved one need help to quit drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.