Use of the Internet to Obtain Drugs Without a Prescription Among Treatment-Involved Adolescents and Young Adults. Issue 5 (2nd September 2016) - Festinger, David S.
ABSTRACT: Nonmedical use of prescription drugs is common and poses risks such as injury, overdose, and development of abuse and dependence. Internet pharmacies offer prescription drugs without a prescription, creating a source of illicit drugs accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. We examined this issue in a convenience sample of 1, 860 adolescents and young adults from 24 residential and outpatient treatment programs. Few individuals obtained drugs from the Internet ( N = 26, 2.3%). Pain relievers were the most frequently purchased type of drug. The majority of adolescents and young adult online purchasers made the purchases from their own or a friend's house.