Issues of Contemporary Online Drug market: The Impact of “Darknet” on Drug Use Among College Students

• In Event: Cyber Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy: Internet Fraud, Cyber-attacks, and Online Drugs

Abstract

Online drug markets on the darknet have created an increased availability of illicit goods and drugs. In these marketplaces, a virtually untraceable payment method, Bitcoin, is the preferred currency. A survey was distributed among students at a university in Massachusetts to determine the impact of the darknet marketplaces on their drug use and purchasing methods. A total of 413 students participated in this study and all the responses were analyzed via Paired t test, ANOVA, and Vignettes. Participants considered the darknet marketplaces a favorable purchasing method. Bitcoins, the current regulation and enforcement of designer drugs and darknet marketplaces are discussed.

Author

• Kevin Earl, University of New Haven