Legal highs on the Internet.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Public Health
• E-commerce Analysis

Background:

• The early 2000s saw a rise in online sales of novel psychoactive substances marketed as legal alternatives to illicit drugs.
• These products, often termed "herbal highs" or "legal highs," presented regulatory and public health challenges due to their unknown composition and effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a descriptive analysis of online drug retailers selling legal alternatives to illegal drugs in 2008.
• To quantify the online availability of these retailers and characterize the products and sales strategies employed within the European Union (EU).

Main Methods:

• A descriptive analysis was performed on data from 27 online drug retailers identified in 2008.
• The study focused on quantifying retailer presence and describing product types and sales characteristics within the EU market.

Main Results:

• The analysis revealed a significant online market for "legal highs" in 2008.
• A primary concern identified was the scarcity of objective information regarding product contents and associated health risks.
• Retailers often provided inadequate details about the substances being sold.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for systems to evaluate the composition of "legal high" products and the accuracy of online information.
• Continued monitoring of the "legal high" market is essential to address public health concerns.
• Regulatory frameworks may be required to ensure consumer safety and informed purchasing decisions.