The relationship between cryptomarket drug purchase, social networks and adverse drug events: A cross-sectional study.
The International journal on drug policy January 1, 2024 Leigh Coney, Amy Peacock, Aili Malm et al. 2 citations
People who buy MDMA, cocaine, or LSD from cryptomarkets are more likely to have no drug-using social network and to report adverse events requiring medical treatment. Among over 23,000 respondents from more than 70 countries in the 2018 Global Drug Survey, adverse events were low overall (5.2%). After controlling for age, gender, and frequency of use, recent cryptomarket use was associated with a higher likelihood of having no drug-using network for each drug. It was also linked to increased odds of adverse events for cocaine (adjusted odds ratio 1.70) and LSD (adjusted odds ratio 1.58). For those with a network larger than one person, cryptomarket use was still associated with more adverse LSD events. The findings suggest cryptomarket use may increase drug-related harm, but the complex mechanisms require further study.