35% of drugs purchased on the dark web contain potentially lethal ingredients –

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Scientists have issued a stern warning to people buying illegal drugs on the dark web. A study by researchers at Australia's RMIT University found that 35 per cent of medicines purchased online do not contain the substance they claim to contain.

Researchers analyzed 103 illegal drug samples purchased from now-defunct dark web forums test 4 pay, in a collaborative effort involving the Australian National University, UNSW Sydney, and Canadian testing facility Get Your Drugs Tested. Despite the common understanding that crypto market A term used to refer to online vendors on the dark web. They tend to offer purer products due to the possibility of customer reviews, but the findings paint a completely different picture.

Only 65% ​​of the drugs tested contained only the advertised substance. This study highlighted a worrying trend. 14 percent of the samples were found to be mixed with other psychoactive or potentially harmful chemicals, and a further 21 percent did not contain any of the promised substances . Amazingly, the MDMA, methamphetamine, and heroin were exactly what was advertised. However, drugs purporting to be ketamine, 2C-B, and alprazolam often turn out to be completely different substances, increasing the risk of dangerous side effects, overdose, and even death.

Scientists specifically noted the discrepancy in the cocaine samples. Of the 19 people tested, only four were found to have pure cocaine. The rest were laced with other substances or contained no cocaine at all.

“Cryptocurrency markets allow anonymous buyers to review their purchases. This means that, in theory, vendors who sell inferior products are more likely to receive bad reviews, which could lead to superior “This means that vendors who sell products that are sold are rewarded,” said study lead author and RMIT Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow Dr Monica Barratt. , in a university release.

“However, despite this recognition of accountability and quality, our findings show that banned drugs purchased from crypto markets are still not safe from adulteration and substitution. .”

This revelation comes as drug purchases on the dark web have declined in favor of more accessible platforms such as messaging and social media apps, as reported in the 2023 National Ecstasy and Related Drug Reporting System study. It was held in the middle of the day. Although these platforms are user-friendly, they lack the security and review features of darknet markets and can increase risk to consumers.

The study also criticizes Australia's law enforcement-centric approach to tackling this issue, pointing to the resilience and adaptability of the darknet market ecosystem to legal turmoil.

“While these apps are much more convenient and easier to use than the dark web, they lack many of the security and review features of darknet markets,” Dr. Barratt explains.

CanTEST is currently Australia's only drug testing service, with Queensland planning to introduce its own service and Victoria considering doing the same. According to Dr. Barratt, drug testing provides a practical approach to mitigating health risks in an unpredictable pharmaceutical market. By detecting harmful substances early, these services prevent potential overdoses and reduce the burden on emergency medical systems.

“What this service can do is explain the known risks of certain drugs in a reliable, non-judgmental way and enable drug users to adjust their behavior to reduce the risks,” Dr Barratt said. say.

Despite more than half a century of international examples of successful drug testing services, Australia has been reluctant to expand these harm reduction measures. Critics argue that drug testing can implicitly support drug use, a position Dr. Barratt and his team dispute. They believe that while no drug use is completely safe, drug testing services can provide valuable information about the risks associated with a particular substance, allowing users to make informed decisions and It emphasizes the potential to reduce harm.

The research will be published in a journal drug and alcohol review.