Recorded presentation

Susan E. Foster, MSW, Policy Research & Analysis, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, 633 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, 212-841-5240, SFoster@casacolumbia.org

CASA is undertaking a landmark study on the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. During the course of our research, we became concerned by the astonishing availability of controlled, dangerous, addictive prescription drugs through the Internet. In January of 2004, CASA teamed with Beau Dietl & Associates (BDA) to look specifically and in depth at the availability of controlled, dangerous, addictive prescription drugs on the Internet. The findings were so alarming that CASA and BDA released them prior to the completion of CASA’s comprehensive study in order to alert parents, teachers and other caregivers of the dangers, particularly to children. The report, entitled “You’ve Got Drugs!” Prescription Drug Pushers on the Internet, documented in a one week period 495 web-sites offering Schedules II-V controlled prescription drugs and 157 sites selling them. Ninety-four percent of these sites did not require a prescription and no sites included mechanisms to block children from purchasing these drugs. While the Internet can provide easier access to medications for individuals who need them for legitimate purposes, it provides a wide-open channel of distribution for dangerous and addictive drugs with enormous implications for public health.

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