Will growth in cryptomarket drug buying increase the harms of illicit drugs?

Abstract

Background and aimCryptomarkets—on‐line, anonymous market‐places for illicit goods and services that specialize mainly in drugs—account for a small but rapidly growing share of the illicit drug market in many countries. Policy responses so far are based generally on the assumption that their rise will only increase drug harms. In this contribution for debate, we question this assumption.MethodsWe provide a narrative review of the emerging literature connected to drug cryptomarkets. We use MacCoun & Reuter's formula to understand the effect of population‐level increases in use on total harm as depending on the level of harm associated with each unit of use. We then consider the potential for cryptomarkets to increase or decrease the harms and benefits related to each unit of drug use, with specific attention to the quality of drugs sold and the non‐drug‐related harms and benefits for customers.ResultsIt is likely that cryptomarkets will increase both the amount and the range of substances that are sold. However, we argue that the effects on harms will depend upon whether cryptomarkets also increase the quality and safety of products that are sold, provide harm‐reducing information to consumers and reduce transactional conflict involved in drug purchasing.ConclusionsThere is an emerging and rapidly growing evidence base connected to the macro and micro harms and benefits of cryptomarkets for drug users. Future researchers should use appropriately matched comparative designs to establish more firmly the differential harms and benefits of sourcing drugs both on‐ and off‐line. While it is unlikely that the on‐line drug trade can be eradicated completely, cryptomarkets will respond to regulation and enforcement in ways that have complex, and sometimes unanticipated, effects on both harms and benefits.

Cryptomarkets, systemic violence and the ‘gentrification hypothesis’

“…Aldridge et al [1] debate the possible increase in harms or benefits associated with buying drugs which arise from the emergence of cryptomarkets. While an important issue, we suggest this is considered in a much broader perspective that includes all online sourcing locations (e.g.…”

“…As Aldridge et al [1] and others [2] persuasively argue, this shift has important implications regarding harm for drug users, as well as for other participants in the drug economy. One of the least understood aspects of cryptomarket-related harms is their relationship to systemic drug violence.…”

“…This is due to various factors, including, as Aldridge and colleagues note [1], that cryptomarkets trade predominantly (though not exclusively) in drugs such as cannabis and MDMA that are typically distributed through closed drug markets in which systemic violence is relatively rare. The demographic characteristics of cryptomarket users may also exclude those market participants who are typically most vulnerable to systemic violence (e.g.…”

Focus on cryptomarkets and online reviews too narrow to debate harms of drugs bought online

“…Aldridge et al provide an excellent review of cryptomarkets, and pose the important question of their impact on drug harms [1]. We agree with their conclusion that both harm augmentation and reduction are possible, but we currently lack the data to judge.…”

Conduites addictives : faits cliniques

“…Internet a également relancé sur le marché un certain nombre de substances synthétisées puis abandonnées par l'industrie pharmaceutique du fait de leur inefficacité ou toxicité [10].…”