A report by the Guardian said that more drug users are unfazed about the possibility of getting linked into an online marketplace despite the fact that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has shut down a popular one last year. The 2014 Global Drug Survey (GDS), which was touted to be the largest research of its kind done, showed that the number of drug users who shop for drugs like so-called legal highs as, well as illegal drugs such as cannabis and MDMA online still continue to grow. Major reasons for such a surprising trend were that the drugs are of quality, acquisition is more conveninent, and that online shopping provides more choices. The latest GDS survey has questioned around 80,000 drug users from 43 countries, the Guardian said.
The UK newspaper said hidden online marketplaces like Silk Road made global news last year when the latter was shut down in October 2013. With the popularity of Bitcoin as a form of payment, purchasing of drugs online had been the preferred way of sorts for people who wish to obtain them without exposing their anonymity. According to the survey, half of the UK respondents purchased drugs online. 60% of the respondents are familiar about Silk Road, while 44% were able to access the online marketplace. Dr Adam Winstock, who is the director of the GDS survey and a consultant addictions psychiatrist based in London said that the survey, which also revealed that 44% of the 22% of the respondents who have bought drugs online first did so in 2012 or the year after, indicated a harrowing truth.
"The fact that 44% of respondents who had bought drugs online said they'd done it for the first time recently says to me there is growing recruitment. It is currently a minority way to get drugs, but it really mimics the growth in e-commerce - we buy things online because it is convenient, cheap, and there is a better product range."
The Guardian said that there is still good news about the latest GDS survey. Along with the survey, a Highway Code was also released to provide cautionary steps on how to take each of the drugs studied in the survey safely.
Winstock said, "Simply saying drugs are bad does not engage people, you have to tell people who want to take drugs how to reduce their risks - and also have more fun. You need a dialogue and that needs to include a conversation about pleasure."
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