However, given the moderate difficulty in accessing hidden sites relative to the open Internet, there is likely to be selection bias in terms of who uses these sites. In addition, online black markets are under pressure from authorities and may blink in and out of existence without warning, adding additional difficulty for data collection. Although street price data are collected by local law enforcement, they have only occasionally been reported at a national level and are rarely made available for public health research [22]. The standard federal government source for this information, the Department of Justice’s National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), was closed in June 2012 as part of a broader realignment of federal drug policy with no notice of future data availability. Prescription opioid diversion and abuse are major public health issues in the United States and internationally.
While most people consider the risk of developing a Marijuana addiction to be low, the possibility of a psychological dependence remains. For treating Cocaine addiction, behavioral therapies are proven to be effective in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Behavioral therapies like contingency management (CM), also called motivational incentives, use a voucher or prize-based system that rewards individuals for abstaining from Cocaine use. Another effective approach for preventing relapse is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps individuals develop skills that will help them achieve long-term abstinence.
How Big Is The Pharmaceutical Black Market?
- Glucose monitors, glucose strips or sensors and insulin pumps are needed to track blood sugar levels and automatically deliver small doses of insulin.
- In Lebanon, drug prices are reviewed and determined by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) during the registration process.
- In the early 1980s, it hit the big cities and urban areas in the United States hard, leading to a sentencing disparity often criticized for its seemingly racial inequality.
- This adaptability of mature drug distribution networks limits the ability of enforcement authorities to eradicate mass-market drugs.
- To our knowledge, this economic evaluation is the first to illustrate drug availability and affordability relative to mean income by outpatient drug class since the start of the Lebanese economic crisis.
Drug Trafficking
Drugs are a major problem in society today. They can cause addiction, health issues, and even death. While some drugs are relatively cheap and easy to obtain, others are extremely expensive and only available on the black market.
What Makes a Drug Expensive on the Black Market?
There are several factors that can contribute to the high cost of a drug on the black market. These include:
What Are The Benefits Of Harm Reduction Strategies In Addressing Drug Addiction?
In his book Why People Obey the Law, Yale psychologist Tom Tyler shows that this is a robust and consistent finding across a variety of domains. Such evidence strongly suggests that the criminal justice system must be viewed by the public to be legitimate, and the laws it enforces justified, in order to gain the compliance and cooperation of the public and to function as effectively as possible. What is more, the War on Drugs is primarily a war on marijuana since the vast majority of arrests made and resources spent have been focused on marijuana offenses.
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is internationally synthesized in China, Mexico and India, then exported to the United States as powder or pressed pills. Additionally, the emergence of the dark web, an encrypted and anonymous corner of the internet that’s a haven for criminal activity, has facilitated the sale of fentanyl and other opioids shipped through traditional delivery services, including the U.S. From Xanax to cocaine, drugs or counterfeit pills purchased in nonmedical settings may contain life-threatening amounts of fentanyl.
- Scarcity: If a drug is difficult to produce or obtain, it will be more expensive.
- Demand: If a drug is in high demand, the price will go up.
- Risk: The risk involved in manufacturing, transporting, and selling illegal drugs can also drive up the price.
Crack generally costs less than Cocaine because it is less pure and produces shorter-lasting (albeit more intense) highs. In 2004, the World Drug Report listed $109 as the typical price for Crack Cocaine, with a general range between $18 and $200. Similarly, a 2016 story by Vice reported the average cost at $60 per gram, with an addiction costing $225 per day in Canada. As such, an individual with a Crack Cocaine addiction could spend as much as $82,125 a year on the drug. Taken 3 times daily, an Oxycodone prescription (among the most common prescriptions) may cost about $361.35 per year without insurance, or $3,285 per year if purchased on the street. However, because someone with an Opioid dependence will require higher and higher amounts to get the same effect, the individual may begin taking progressively higher numbers of pills each day, raising the total cost of their addiction significantly.
The Most Expensive Drug in the Black Market
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the most expensive drug in the black market is Rhino Horn. A single kilogram of Rhino Horn can sell for up to $60,000 on the black market.
Rhino Horn is made from the keratin found in the horns of Rhinos. It is believed to have medicinal properties in some cultures, although there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. The high demand for Rhino Horn, combined with the scarcity of Rhinos, has made it one of the most expensive drugs in the world.
The Dangers of the Black Market
Buying drugs on the black market can be dangerous. Not only is it illegal, but the drugs sold on the black market are often impure and can contain harmful additives. This can lead to serious health issues and even death.
Additionally, the people who sell drugs on the black market are often involved in organized crime and are willing to use violence to protect their territory and profits. This can put buyers at risk of violence and exploitation.
Conclusion
The most expensive drug in the black market is Rhino Horn, which can sell for up to $60,000 per kilogram. While some people believe that Rhino Horn has medicinal properties, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Buying drugs on the black market is dangerous and illegal, and can lead to serious health issues and even death.
