NCJ Number
202455
Journal
The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 42 Issue: 4 Dated: September 2003 Pages: 374-389
Date Published
September 2003
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the illegal activities of drugs’ newsgroups on the Internet.
Abstract
The main focus of this study was on the Usenet, which is the Internet’s primary discussion area, containing over 30,000 different discussion groups. Usenet is described as the Internet’s community that meets to talk about any subject imaginable, as well as a system for sharing and exchanging messages electronically worldwide. The purpose of this research was to examine the nature and activities of the newsgroup alt.drugs.chemistry (ADC) to see what activity was taking place. This group appears to operate like a free, open university for drug making and taking by offering tuition on how to manufacture substances such as ecstasy, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and LSD. There is no established methodology for conducting social science research on the Internet. The first step of this research was to locate and read documents that explained the purpose of the group. The main reason for examining these documents was to see why the group was created. Documents that were examined included Request for Discussion, a document that provides justification for the creation of the group; charters; and the Frequently Asked Question document, which is normally prepared when a newsgroup is created. The second stage of the research involved the analysis of the group’s postings. The results of the study suggest that ADC appears to be one in which experts on the chemical synthesis of illicit substances offer tuition to those that are less experienced at making them. The tuition exceeds what a reasonable person might see as merely discussion. The tuition provides enough information so that those that desire to manufacture clandestinely certain illegal substances are able to do so. Ways of either gaining access to or making the necessary precursor chemicals were offered in the group’s postings. Ways of distributing the drugs were also presented to group members. The tuition offered in ADC could also provide the foundation for violations of various criminal laws. 22 notes, 30 references