%0 Journal Article
%T Surface internet marketplace presence and availability of NPS sold as research chemicals: a snapshot study
%A Hallam M. Gugelmann
%A Michael A. Darracq
%A Patil Armenian
%A Stephen L. Thornton
%J Toxicology Communications
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1080/24734306.2019.1648067
%X Abstract Background: The misuse and abuse of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are facilitated by their sale as ˇ°research chemicalsˇ± (RC) on the internet. Methods: Prospective observational study of the first 12 consecutive working websites from the Google search ˇ°RC Buy.ˇ± Inventory was taken of single substance RCs weekly from 6 June 2016 to 22 December 2016 and tabulated. Results: During the study period, three RC internet vendors (RCIV) became inactive. There was a mean of 54 RCs per site (range 11¨C146, SD 33) for a total of 651. The two most common types of RC for sale were synthetic cathinones (83) and synthetic cannabinoids (82). Least common were LSD analogs (5). A total of 79 new RCs were added to RCIVs, most often synthetic cathinones (25). A total of 41 RCs were no longer sold, most often synthetic cannabinoids (16). Of 302 unique RCs identified, 50 (16.6%) were DEA Schedule I. Of five RCs designated DEA schedule I during the study period, availability did not change after scheduling. Conclusions: A large, varied and dynamic inventory of NPS, some DEA schedule I, are sold on the surface internet under the guise of ˇ°RCs.ˇ± The number of RCs for sale increased during the study period, showing this mode of drug trade is accelerating and not relegated to the darknet
%U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24734306.2019.1648067