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Prescription Drugs & the Internet
Drug Information & the Internet
Drug Cartels & Technology

Quick Reference

	Quick Reference: Drugs & the Internet The following information is excerpted from the resources compiled as part of Drugstory's Special Feature "Drugs & the Internet"
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Prescription Drugs & the Internet

	Food and Drug Administration (FDA) http://www.fda.gov The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics and products that emit radiation.
Hearing: "A System Overwhelmed: The Avalanche of Imported, Counterfeit, and Unapproved Drugs in the U.S." June 24, 2003 Testimony before the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the continuing problem of imported, unimproved and counterfeit pharmaceutical products from foreign and domestic sources. Addresses potentially dangerous practices associated with some Internet drug sales.
	RX Roulette - Washington Post http://www.drugstory.org/feature/RxRoulette.asp A yearlong investigation by the Washington Post has revealed a thriving shadow market for prescription drugs on the Internet. Read the entire five-part series and get more information on the investigation here.
Part II: Internet Trafficking in Narcotics Has Surged The Internet has become a pipeline for narcotics and other deadly drugs, selling painkillers, antidepressants, stimulants and steroids with few controls and virtually no medical monitoring. For the FDA, the task of shutting down these rogue sites is daunting.
The New Narcotics Pipeline This U.S. map shows the distribution network of one online pharmacy that was selling enormous amounts of controlled substances through the Internet.
Main Street Mark-Ups These charts show the extreme mark-ups charged by one online pharmacy for dispensing controlled substances, as well as their proportion of sales of controlled substances to brand drugs.
	Mail-Order Danger - SELF Magazine http://www.drugstory.org/feature/mailorderdanger.asp Where can you buy potent and potentially addictive medicines without ever seeing a doctor? On the Internet. This in-depth investigation shows just how easy it is.
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Drug Information & the Internet

	U.S. Department of Justice: National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/index.htm The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) is the nation's principal center for strategic domestic counterdrug intelligence.
Drugs, Youth, and the Internet (October 2002) This information bulletin discusses the prevalence of drug-related activity on the Internet, and the threat it poses to adolescents and young adults.
	Pediatrics http://www.pediatrics.org/ A journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics containing original research, observations and special feature articles.
Just a Click Away: Recreational Drug Web Sites on the Internet Speculates that the rise of Web sites and online forums dispensing information on "safe" and "responsible" drug use may be partly to blame for the growing acceptance of club drugs by young people.
	Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) http://www.usdoj.gov/dea Enforces controlled substances laws and regulations in the United States.
"Date Rape" Drug Sold Over the Internet A description of Operation Webslinger, the most significant enforcement effort targeting drug traffickers using the internet to buy and sell dangerous drugs and chemicals.
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Drug Cartels & Technology

	International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) http://www.incb.org An independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions that is responsible for promoting government compliance with the provisions of international drug control treaties.
Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2003 Describes the impact of globalization and new technologies on drug-related crime and criminal organizations.
Previous International Narcotics Control Board Reports Connects to a list of all International Narcotics Control Board Reports from 1996 to 2002.
	United States Embassy, Tokyo, Japan http://japan.usembassy.gov/ A diplomatic post maintained by the United States to support international relations and promote U.S. interests.
Organized Crime and Cybercrime: Synergies, Trends, and Responses Describes the increasing trend of Internet use by criminals to carry out illicit business, including fraud, theft, pervasive pornography and drug trafficking.
	Solicitor General Canada http://www.sgc.gc.ca/index_e.asp Responsible for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain Canada as a peaceful and safe society.
Electronic Money Laundering: An Environmental Scan (1998) Describes the basic concepts of money laundering, its effects on society, and the new potential for e-money laundering - specifically in the illicit drug market - due to the rise of electronic money transactions and business.
	U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/home.xml The government agency responsible for securing America's borders and ports of entry to prevent threats of terrorism, regulate international trade and stem the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband.
Customs CyberSmuggling Center (C3) Fact Sheet Brings together all Customs assets dedicated to the investigation of international criminal activity conducted on, or facilitated by, the Internet.
Trafficking on the Internet Growing - Associated Press Worldwide, drug traffickers increasingly are taking advantage of encrypted e-mail and other Internet technology to sell their stashes, launder money and trade tips and techniques.
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