scholarly journals Exploring Televend, a new hybrid darknet and messaging app market for prohibited drugs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Jane Barratt ◽  
Francois Lamy ◽  
Liam Engel ◽  
Emma Davies ◽  
Cheneal Puljević ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Market Design ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Drug Market ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Web Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White House ◽  
Similar Drug

Background and Aims. Digital technologies continue to facilitate drug trading. Televend’s backend is hosted on the darknet—like a cryptomarket, but purchases are made through the messaging app Telegram—like an app-mediated market. Here, we provide an initial characterisation of the Televend drug market. Design. Web scrapes and global cross-sectional web survey of drug buyers (Global Drug Survey; GDS).Setting. Televend and White House Market (WHM) (Jun–Jul 2021). Participants. 15,513 drug buyers (Dec 2020–Mar 2021)Measurements. For scrapes: Drug listing information including advertised product, vendor name, country of origin and destination. For survey: Modes of drug sourcing in the last 12 months, drug types sourced, demographic and drug use characteristics. Findings. Televend was 10% of the size of the largest drug cryptomarket (WHM) (4,515/44,830 listings per week). Televend listings increased slightly (4.9%), while WHM listing totals decreased slightly (-2.6%) over the same 8-week period. Both markets predominantly contained drug-related listings covering similar drug categories, with similar country of origin and destination. While around 1/10 reported sourcing from darknet markets (11.3%) or apps (9.0%), very few GDS drug buyers reported use of Televend (0.73%). Most Televend buyers (68/114) reported buying cannabis, then cocaine (20), MDMA (17), and LSD (12). The Televend and darknet groups had similar demographic and drug use characteristics; whereas compared with app purchasers, older age increased the odds of Televend use (aRRR=1.06, p<.001), identifying as a woman decreased the odds (aRRR=0.43, p=.004), while last-year use of a greater number of drug types (aRRR=1.20, p<.001) and less frequent drug use (aRRR=0.998, p=.032) increased the odds of Televend purchase. Conclusions. While smaller, Televend is not noticeably different in its drug offerings to its largest cryptomarket competitor, and at this time, our data suggest that Televend attracts a cohort more similar to darknet than to app drug buyers.

scholarly journals Use of psychoactive substances at least once in life among Brazilian university students at the beginning and end of courses and the associated factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-474
Author(s):  
Laíza Rocha Dantas ◽  
Monalisa Cesarino Gomes ◽  
Larissa Chaves Morais de Lima ◽  
Bruno Rafael Cruz-da-Silva ◽  
Lívia Rocha Dantas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Living Situation ◽  
Male Sex

Abstract Objective Investigate the use of psychoactive substances at least once in life among students at the beginning and end of their courses and determine the associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted with a representative sample of 398 students in public university. The students answered a questionnaire validated for the evaluation of drug use and socio-demographic data. Poisson regression analysis was performed. Results A total of 56.3% and 13.3% of the students had used both legal and ilegal drugs. The following variables remained significantly associated with legal drug use in the final model: male sex (PR=1.48; 95%CI: 1.25-1.76), older age group (PR=1.23; 95%CI: 1.03-1.47), not living with parents (PR=1.20; 95%CI: 1.01-1.41), not having a religion (PR=1.37; 95%CI: 1.16-1.62) and taking a course in the health field (PR=1.33; 95%CI: 1.08-1.64). The following variables were significantly associated with ilegal drug use: male sex (PR=2.33; 95%CI: 1.35-4.02), older age group (PR=2.27; 95%CI: 1.28-4.02), higher monthly income (PR=1.73; 95%CI: 1.05-2.85) and not having a religion (PR=1.70; 95%CI: 1.02-2.84). Conclusion Legal and ilegal drug use at least once in life was associated with social factors, sex, age, income, religion, living situation and type of higher education course.

Risk Minimization Measures in Off-Label Drug Use: A Survey of Community Pharmacists in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
Omotayo Fatokun
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Risk Minimization ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Off Label ◽  
Written Informed Consent

Background: While off-label drug use is common and sometimes necessary, it also presents considerable risks. Therefore, measures intended to prevent or reduce the potential exposure to off-label risks have been recommended. However, little is known about community pharmacists’ beliefs regarding these measures in Malaysia. Objectives: This study examined community pharmacists’ beliefs towards risk minimization measures in off-label drug use in Malaysia and assessed the relationship between perceived risk of off-label drug use and beliefs towards risk minimization measures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 154 pharmacists practicing in randomly selected community pharmacies in Kuala Lumpur and the State of Selangor, Malaysia. Results: The majority agreed or strongly agreed that adverse drug events from the off-label drug should be reported to the regulatory authority (90.9%) and the off-label drug should only be used when the benefit outweighs potential risks (88.3%). Less than half (48.1%) agreed or strongly agreed that written informed consent should be obtained before dispensing off-label drugs and a majority (63.7%) agreed or strongly agreed that the informed consent process will be burdensome to healthcare professionals. Beliefs towards risk minimization measures were significantly associated with perceived risk of off-label drug use regarding efficacy (p = 0. 033), safety (p = 0.001), adverse drug rection (p = 0.001) and medication errors (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The community pharmacists have positive beliefs towards most of the risk minimization measures. However, beliefs towards written informed consent requirements are not encouraging. Enhancing risk perception may help influence positive beliefs towards risk minimization measures.

Evaluation of Drug Use Based on WHO Prescribing Indicator in Mizan- Tepi University Teaching Hospital, south Western Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Hambisa ◽  
Rediet Feleke ◽  
Ameha Zewudie ◽  
Mohammed Yimam
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Hospital Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

Background:: Rational drug use comprises aspects of prescribing, dispensing and patient use of medicines for different health problems. This study is aimed to assess drug prescribing practice based on the world health organization prescribing indicators in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Methods:: An institutional based retrospective cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate prescribing practices in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Data were collected based on World health organization drug use indicators using prescription papers. 600 prescriptions dispensed through the general outpatient pharmacy of the hospital were collected by systematic random sampling method from prescriptions written for a 1-year time in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Results:: The present study found that the average number of drugs per prescription was 2.04 ± 0.87 in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital with a range between 1 and 5. Prescribing by generic name was 97.6 % and 47.8% of prescriptions contained antibiotics in the hospital. 27.7% of prescriptions contained at least one injectable medication in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. From prescribed drugs, 96.7% of them were prescribed from Ethiopian essential drug list. Conclusion:: Present study indicated that the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter, the percentage of generic prescribing and prescribing from the EDL were close to optimal value. However, the percentage of encounters with antibiotics and injections prescribed were found be very high. Thus, the study highlights some improvements in prescribing habits, particularly by focusing on the inappropriate consumption of antibiotics and injections.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional observational study of epidemiology of COVID-19 and clinical outcomes of hospitalised patients in North West London during March and April 2020

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e044384
Author(s):  
Guduru Gopal Rao ◽  
Alexander Allen ◽  
Padmasayee Papineni ◽  
Liyang Wang ◽  
Charlotte Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
North West ◽  
Icu Admission ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Increased Risk

ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to describe evolution, epidemiology and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in subjects tested at or admitted to hospitals in North West London.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingLondon North West Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH).ParticipantsPatients tested and/or admitted for COVID-19 at LNWH during March and April 2020Main outcome measuresDescriptive and analytical epidemiology of demographic and clinical outcomes (intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation and mortality) of those who tested positive for COVID-19.ResultsThe outbreak began in the first week of March 2020 and reached a peak by the end of March and first week of April. In the study period, 6183 tests were performed in on 4981 people. Of the 2086 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1901 were admitted to hospital. Older age group, men and those of black or Asian minority ethnic (BAME) group were predominantly affected (p<0.05). These groups also had more severe infection resulting in ICU admission and need for mechanical ventilation (p<0.05). However, in a multivariate analysis, only increasing age was independently associated with increased risk of death (p<0.05). Mortality rate was 26.9% in hospitalised patients.ConclusionThe findings confirm that men, BAME and older population were most commonly and severely affected groups. Only older age was independently associated with mortality.

Antipsychotic drug use in Greenland and Denmark: longitudinal and cross-sectional data

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Francisco Alberdi ◽  
Ane Storch Jakobsen ◽  
Johannes Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Antipsychotic Drug ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Knee Pain and Heel Pain in Youth Soccer Players Aged 8 to 12 Years

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596711988337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Iwame ◽  
Tetsuya Matsuura ◽  
Naoto Suzue ◽  
Joji Iwase ◽  
Hirokazu Uemura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Heel Pain ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Study Participants

Background: Soccer is played by many children younger than 12 years. Despite its health benefits, soccer has also been linked to a high number of sport-related injuries. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between clinical factors and knee or heel pain in youth soccer players. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Study participants included 602 soccer players aged 8 to 12 years who were asked whether they had experienced episodes of knee or heel pain. Data were collected on age, body mass index, years of playing soccer, playing position, and training hours per week. Associations of clinical factors with the prevalence of knee or heel pain were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Episodes of knee and heel pain were reported by 29.4% and 31.1% of players, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that older age and more years of playing soccer were significantly and positively associated with the prevalence of knee pain ( P = .037 and P = .015 for trend, respectively) but did not identify any significant associations for heel pain. Conclusion: In this study of youth soccer players, knee pain was associated with older age and more years of play, but heel pain was not significantly associated with any factor.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitude, and utilization of drugs toward COVID-19 pandemic among Bale Zone residents, Southeast Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110343
Author(s):  
Ayele Mamo ◽  
Mesud M Hassen ◽  
Ahmednur Adem ◽  
Zinash Teferu ◽  
Musa Kumbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bale Zone

Background: Coronavirus disease is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which poses therapeutic dilemmas. Some suggestions for drug treatment seem problematic. Beliefs about the causes of health problems are determinants of treatment seeking decisions. Hence, one of the alternatives for the solution of health problems is employing traditional medicine to prevent coronavirus disease 19. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and utilization of drugs toward the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic among Bale zone residents. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the Bale Zone population from May 30 to June 30, 2020. Eight hundred fifty-four participants were selected using a single population formula, and a multistage sampling technique was employed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive and binary logistic regression was used to analyze the outcomes. A p value ⩽ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of the total 854 respondents, about 534 (62.5%) got information about coronavirus disease 19 from TV/radio. More than two-thirds (71.9%) of the respondents have known that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has no curative drugs, and 65.4% had a more appropriate attitude toward overall drug use in coronavirus disease 19. Level of education and, attitude towards drug use were singnificantly associated with knowledge of drugs, source of information about coronavirus disease 19 and having good practice were significantly associated with atittude toward drug utilization. Conclusion: One out of two study participants have good knowledge regarding drugs to the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic. Illiterate people in the community were identified to have poor knowledge about drugs, hence community educuation program is important to improve the knowledge about drugs towards the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic.

Prescription Drug and Healthcare Use Among Swedish Patients Treated with Antidepressants

1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 566-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Al Bingefors ◽  
Dag Gl Isacson ◽  
Lars Von Knorring ◽  
Björn Smedby
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Ambulatory Care ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Antidepressant Drugs ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prescription Drug Use

Objective: To analyze healthcare and prescription drug use among patients taking and those not taking antidepressant drugs in a Swedish community. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: General population of the rural Swedish municipality Tierp of approximately 20 000 inhabitants. Participants: All residents of Tierp aged 25 years or older during 1988. Main Outcome Measures: Mean number of ambulatory care visits, hospital bed days, and prescriptions per person; proportion of those taking prescription drugs in different pharmacologic classes. Results: Patients treated with antidepressant drugs had a significantly (p < 0.05) greater use of ambulatory care, hospital care, and prescription drugs than those who did not take antidepressants in the study population. They also had an increased frequency of use of prescription drugs from virtually all pharmacologic classes. Furthermore, the risk for polypharmacy was high in patients treated with antidepressant medications. Conclusions: Those who took antidepressant drugs consumed more health services and prescription drugs than did those not taking an antidepressant. Patients receiving antidepressant treatment may be at serious risk for iatrogenic disease and should be evaluated carefully with respect to concomitant drug use.

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