Darknet Drug Markets: An Inconvenient Truth
The cold reality, that darknet markets provide an essential public service & constitute a genuine lifesaver for many, is almost entirely hidden from the public.
The darknet, and in particular, its drug infrastructure, doesn’t sell itself very well. The media consistently misrepresents it, with no pushback whatsoever. The drug markets, onion directories, harm reduction socials, and of course ethical vendors, are either ignored or demonised.
With the recent takedown of a major market, and in the interests of truth and accuracy, let’s place at least some common sense facts on to the table.
Whether you believe that all drugs should be legal, or whether you are at the opposite end of the spectrum, I would initially invite you to consider the essential position of the markets themselves in saving lives; specifically in terms in protecting the health and welfare of drug consumers.
I do understand that this idea is contrary to the ongoing war on drugs narrative, as perpetuated within our common culture, but concrete factual reality must, at some point, interject.
THE SUPPLY CHAIN
According to the United Nations, 250 million people use illicit psychoactive drugs. This figure is relatively stable, and the situation is not going to change. If, therefore, you have any concern for, or empathy with, this substantial body of the world’s population, then you should at least consider the actuality of the supply chain.
In terms of sourcing there are generally two options: the physical world and the darknet. Boiling this down to the individual who is seeking supply, it is often the proverbial man in the pub versus a darknet market.
Let’s consider the risks associated with each scenario.
STREET DEALING Vs DARKNET MARKETS
With respect to the former, you are on your own. Even assuming that the locale and social situation itself is physically safe, you have no assurance regarding the material purchased. For example, it could be adulterated, or it could in itself be a similar but more dangerous fake (such as fentanyl). These are serious and significant risks.
Regarding darknet markets, whilst risk undoubtedly remains, it is at least mitigated:
An eBay type rating system is used, so you have an indication of the track record of the vendor
Actors proven to be bad are generally expelled from the market
Major markets increasingly refuse to sell common high-risk adulterants (e.g. fentanyl and xylazine)
Provision of vital harm reduction information at point of drug purchase now tends to be the norm. For example, a majority of major markets offer a free PDF copy of The Drug Users Bible (a harm reduction book). They do more to educate drug users than governments.
These are all substantive and significant facts, and they all gravitate to offer a clear form of protection for anyone purchasing psychoactive substances through this route.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
From the consumer’s perspective there’s also Dread. This hugely influential harm reduction and social media platform uses its dominant position for good. Critically, it enables consumers to share risk mitigation information and helps them to identify bad actors (as above), including rogue vendors and scammers. It provides a vital layer of protection for the online drug community.
It is a self-evident truth that furnishing individuals with safety information on their drug of choice reduces the risk of tragedy and death. Thus, in a similar manner to most markets, the platform also provides essential safety data, again including a copy of The Drug Users Bible.
By contrast, it is worth mentioning that I have regularly had accounts banned/suspended, and content removed by Instagram, Facebook, Quora, TikTok, YouTube, et al for the heinous offence of sharing even the most basic safety content from the book (even when directly presenting it to the most vulnerable).
THE GRAVE FOLLY OF THE LAW
The absence of this infrastructure would clearly have a severe and detrimental effect upon the welfare of a significant number of people. Lives would be placed in jeopardy, and some would undoubtedly be lost.
However, this is precisely what happens on a periodic basis. From time to time law enforcement, be it in Europe, the United States, or elsewhere, track down and unceremoniously seize/close an important market. A vital party to this equation, which in terms of health and safety is providing an essential public service at point of need, is abruptly closed.
The supply of drugs is not curtailed or reduced in any way by this: it is simply diverted to other channels, some of which will present increased (and potentially fatal) danger to buyers.
Yet, the devastation caused is frequently presented by the police and media as constituting a significant victory. Substantial effort, and large sums of money, have been expended in delivering an outcome which is actually counter to the public interest.
WHO ARE THE BAD GUYS?
So who are the bad guys in this scenario? Is it those who provide a life-saving infrastructure, or those who seek to tear it down?
I am sure that even some police officers can see the problem here, are willing to think outside the boundaries of their institutional mandate, and understand the overall impact of their actions upon human life.
The fact is that in the absence of even the most tenuous of initiatives from authorities/governments, the current darknet drug infrastructure protects, educates and supports countless thousands of vulnerable consumers, at least to some degree. This remarkable framework of self-regulation should clearly be recognised as such, rather than being relentlessly pursued and vilified.
The real answer to the above question therefore is that the bad guys are those who created this situation: the government, with a supporting cast of media propagandists and self-serving sycophants. Their continued prosecution of the unwinnable war on drugs continues to cost lives at every turn, and most of them know it. The problem is that they just don’t care.
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NOTE: For drug consumers I will end by stressing the importance of personal responsibility with respect to harm reduction. The relative safety of the supply process is merely a start point in mitigating risk to your health and welfare. Also note that The Drug Users Bible can be downloaded without charge from any of the cloud network links on the following page: https://www.drugusersbible.com/2018/01/pdf.html