Internet Drugs: What Parents Should Know

Instead of sketchy street corners in bad neighborhoods and dangerous alleys behind night clubs, more illicit drug users are turning to the internet to get their fix.

Unfortunately, you can buy pretty much anything you want online, including powerful opioids, Adderall or synthetic compounds. Many of these drugs change formulas frequently to stay a step ahead of the law that regulate the the chemical substances in them. All it takes is a few clicks to have a package on the way. This includes marijuana illegal shipped from Colorado via the U.S. Postal Service -- 90% of those selling pot this way do not get caught.

Most online dealers hang out in the Darknet or Dark Web, a portion of the internet only accessible by software that makes browsers untraceable. Because the Dark Web net is rife with drugs, child pornography, and other illegal activities that cannot be traced, people who seek drugs online take extra steps to cloak their own identity by paying with cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin and using an untraceable email address.

But although the Darknet is a haven for drug activity, the U.S. Senate found that some drugs, specifically opioids, can be found and purchased through a simple Google search.

Recently, when members searched for “buy fentanyl online,” hundreds of websites popped up. Fentanyl is an opioid 100 times stronger than heroin that is responsible for thousands of overdoses across the United States.

In addition to opioids, legal drugs including salvia, K2 and bath salts are also easy to buy online. Salvia, a cousin to mint, is grown in Mexico and produces hallucinations that may be harmful to memory and learning. Laws vary from state to state whether this dangerous drug is legal to possess, making online sales legitimate.

Many illicit drug sites you can find on common search engines are based in China. Although the Chinese government has cracked down on online drug sales, clever underground pharmaceutical manufacturers tweak the formula just a small amount to stay within legal parameters.

Makers of K2, synthetic marijuana, change up formulas to stay just within the law, too. K2, also known as spice, is a mix of industrial chemicals sprayed on dried plant material. The chemicals are designed to mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Users are not only expose to hazardous chemicals, but potentially unsafe levels of synthetic THC.

Synthetic cathinones, commonly known as bath salts, can also be legally purchased online. The drug mimics the effects of the khat plant, which produces a mild stimulant high. Like K2, makers substitute chemicals to mimic the khat plant’s properties. Overdose from bath salts can result in death, and the drug is addictive.

Buying online drugs through the worldwide web can be traced by law enforcement, but with so many transactions taking place, it’s unlikely that a buyer will be caught. Websites shut down and pop back up again under another name to avoid detection.

To keep your children from buying drugs online, it’s important to have access to all their electronic devices. Here’s what you need to know:

Know the use of every program and app on your family’s phones, tablets and computers. Research the Darknet to find out what software is used to access it, and make sure it’s not on your family’s devices.

Keep close track of debit and credit cards used by your children. Your bank account can tell you who received money from your accounts. Know where your (or their) money is going.

Be aware of packages coming into your home, especially if they are from the post service. Online drug dealers prefer the U.S. Postal Service for delivery because suspicious packages are examined by hand, rather than more accurate, automated methods used by UPS and Fed Ex.

If you or a loved one has a problem with drugs, help is available. Call your Employee Assistance Program for counseling, treatment and other options to get back on the road to better health.