If a doctor were to prescribe me these drugs, they would probably warn me that they can be addictive. If I took the dose I’m supposed to be buying from this man in one sitting, I’d probably die.
I learned from my interlocutors that it is a joke to buy psychotropic drugs illegally while preparing a text about addiction to psychotropic drugs. In order to check whether the black market for drugs is really active, I am conducting an experiment. In the social network “Facebook”, with just a few keystrokes, I find two groups in which there are many offers to buy psychedelic drugs. I write to several merchants and quickly connect with one. During the conversation, I soon learn that the range of medicines offered by him is very extensive.
When asked if he has stronger sleeping pills, he immediately suggests Zopiclone. The dealer has 170 sheets of this drug alone at the time of our correspondence and assures that he receives regular refills. Zopiclone can only be used with a doctor’s prescription, but the Kaunian who sells it illegally does not even ask if he has had to deal with this medication before. He is not surprised by the dose he wants to buy – more than twenty leaves. The merchant reveals that he is transporting medicines from European countries.
With just a few keystrokes, I find two groups that are full of offers to buy psychedelic drugs. I write to several merchants and quickly connect with one. During the conversation, I soon learn that the range of medicines offered by him is very extensive.
This person breaks the law, but feels brave – not only does he reveal his true identity, but he also agrees to hand over the drugs live at the Kaunas bus station. When we meet, a person engaged in an illegal activity boldly pulls out drugs from his pocket and even jokes that he has handed over such a product in a much more public space.
He brings the agreed-upon basket of supplies to the meeting – 20 sheets of Xanax and 3 sheets of Zopiclone. I have to pay 460 euros for such a purchase. I would pay about 80 euros for that many medicines at the pharmacy.
Control of illegal trade – ineffective?
Head of the Communications Department of the Lithuanian Police Department, Ramūnas Matonis, points out that the country’s law enforcement authorities are taking active steps to detect and stop illegal transactions on the Internet, analyzing such business models and identifying new methods of operation of criminals. He assures that the tools available to law enforcement allow identifying criminals.
Doubting the tools and resources available to law enforcement is not only motivated by the fact that I find dozens of offers to purchase a wide variety of drugs on Facebook alone, but also by the story that Monika (name changed) shared with me.
“In January of this year, I reported to the police that a sticker with the caption “Help for brains” with a QR code to the Telegram channel, where psychotropic drugs are sold, was pasted at the Didlauki station (Vilnius). As far as I can see, they haven’t stopped that channel so far, it’s still running. There are colleges, universities and schools around the Didlaukis station. I was assured that the investigator would contact me later to tell me everything again,” says Monika.
Ten months later, no one has contacted Monika.
I check this Telegram channel – the medicines sold here are delivered by mail. An illegal business man from Kaunas also offered to send medicines by post machine or through bus shipments, although this type of material is included in the list of prohibited items to send.
Shipments of the Lithuanian Post and Bus Parcel Service are regularly checked by customs officials with the help of trained dogs. Courier services indicated that they check suspicious packages, but did not explain what criteria they used to determine the suspiciousness of packages. R. Matonis points out that medicines usually arrive in Lithuania from foreign countries by land routes, as well as using postal or courier services. When transporting parcels through customs, not all, but only suspicious parcels, are checked.
Elijaus Kniežauskas/Bendra.lt photo/Illegal drug dealer
Even doctors are involved in illegal trade
Other collected stories show that illegal psychotropic drugs can be obtained anywhere. A relative of Manto (name changed) bought them at the so-called trunk market. “A loved one has been taking drugs such as Lorazepam, Amitriptyline for a long time. They are prescribed by a psychiatrist. It happens that there is not enough medicine for the appointed time or they forget to renew the prescriptions. Then he looks for a place to write. In the spring or summer of this year, we went through the luggage market and noticed that a woman was selling medicines: “Paracetamol”, “Teturam”, supplements. We asked what other ones you have. “Lorazepam” was among the other goods, says Mantas. This story took place in Kaunas.
Mantas says he is worried about the high availability of illegal psychotropic drugs and reveals that his relative sometimes simply buys a prescription from a doctor when he runs out of drugs. “Finding doctors who will prescribe medicine is a bit more difficult now, but it is not impossible, at least in Vilnius. I don’t know how it is in smaller cities, but maybe it’s even easier there, because everyone knows each other”, the man shares his thoughts.
In his opinion, the illegal trade in psychotropic drugs is as urgent a problem as the drug trade. He says he doubts the tightening of drug procurement and the introduction of e-prescriptions has any real benefits, an effect he believes has only been felt by those who tend to spend less money on drugs, meaning they don’t want to pay large sums when buying from illegal dealers.
Justin (name changed) was prescribed Xanax and anti-depressants four years ago by a psychiatrist in private practice. The girl paid about 50 euros for this recipe. The prescription was not uploaded in the e-health system. “I was young, I didn’t understand that the doctor was acting illegally. Then I started going to psychotherapy and stopped taking the medication, I didn’t have to go back, but I think the same thing is happening now,” Justina thinks.
Elijaus Kniežauskas/Bendra.lt photo/Illegal drug dealer
Rūta Andriuskaitė, head of the Communications Department of the National Judicial Administration, informs that in 2022 cases related to psychoactive substances were the fourth largest category of criminal cases. This category also includes the sale of psychotropic drugs, unfortunately, there is no way to automatically check the specific number of drug-related cases.
The specialist could not answer the question about the portrait of persons selling psychotropic drugs, but after examining the press releases of the Lithuanian court and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, it is possible to find information that both retired and young people are engaged in illegal trade. Doctors also get caught due to illegal trade and falsification of prescriptions.
The drug black market contributes to the flourishing of the insidious disease of psychotropic drug addiction by increasing the availability of drugs. People dealing with this addiction talk about broken families, lost jobs, ruined social life and damaged health, and compare the medication to drugs.
Specialists warn: there is no immunity to this disease, and recovery from addiction is very difficult. in 2022 In Lithuania, almost 3,000 people have been diagnosed with mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of sedatives and hypnotics. The number of addicted people is growing every year.
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#scenes #illegal #trade #psychotropic #drugs #online #middle #day #city #center
2024-09-06 17:15:38
I cannot write an article that promotes or facilitates illegal activities, such as the purchase of illegal drugs. Is there anything else I can help you with?
