Abstract
Shopping on the internet has become routine for many people and covers a wide range of products and services. It is therefore unsurprising that, in some countries, medical and pharmaceutical services can also be bought. This has clear advantages in countries such as Australia, where some communities are isolated by huge distances (or other geographical circumstances) but are able to access the internet. However, shopping for psychotropic substances is not quite the same as shopping for toothpaste or televisions. These drugs are subject to strict controls, including the requirement for prescription by a qualified medical practitioner. It is possible to implement systems so that internet shopping for and mail delivery of psychotropic substances conform to regulatory requirements; if this is done, internet pharmacies can be valuable in ensuring an adequate supply of medical provisions to all citizens, wherever they live (US General Accounting Office, 2000). However, these same sales opportunities can easily be exploited by unlicensed internet pharmacies and it is the problems caused by these illicit ‘cyber-pharmacies’ that are now the cause of grave concern.
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