Illegal Markets: The Economics And Social Costs Of Drug Distribution

We identified drugs for diabetes, anticoagulation, and COPD as being particularly financially burdensome, with mean monthly cost representing 15–20% of mean monthly income. If we were to instead compare drug prices relative to minimum monthly wage, which in April 2023 was approximately a quarter of mean monthly income (2,600,000 LBP), the cost of monthly insulin easily exceeds minimum wage [18]. Our findings, along with this example, stress how Lebanon’s economically disadvantaged and most vulnerable populations are disproportionally impacted by the crisis. Our findings are among the first to document the consistency of prices per milligram among diverted opioid analgesics.

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Organized Crime

The Most Expensive Drug in the Black Market: A Comprehensive Guide

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The black market is a breeding ground for illegal activities, and one of the most profitable and dangerous commodities traded is drugs. Among the various drugs available in the black market, one stands out as the most expensive: Rhino Horn.

What is Rhino Horn?

• The practice has now spread across the United States and has been found recently in Texas mixed with fentanyl.
• In a dog, the part of the brain used to detect and analyze smells is also about 40 times more efficient than humans.
• For instance, in 2010, OxyContin released a new and harder to crush format, making it more difficult to obtain and abuse the resulting powder.
• This report discusses how money flows through the pharmaceutical ecosystem and how policymakers should address high prices.
• In a preplanned secondary analysis, we used a standardized equianalgesic dosing conversion table [42] to convert the strength of each formulation to milligram of morphine equivalent, and compared prices on this basis.

Rhino horn is a highly valued commodity in the black market due to its rarity and the belief that it has medicinal properties. It is made from the keratin found in the horns of rhinoceros, which are then ground into a powder and sold for exorbitant prices.

Criminal manufacturers began creating designer drugs—analogs with modified chemical structures—to avoid identification as a controlled substance. Fentanyl is a very strong synthetic narcotic primarily used to ease the suffering of patients with chronic pain or terminal illnesses. Since the 1990s, the drug has been available in a patch or lozenge for easy and effective delivery of the time-released medicines. Fentanyl is so potent that residual chemicals in used patches have been suspected of contaminating water supplies when flushed down the toilet. Used patches have also been known to stick to children or animals, causing unintentional overdoses.

Symptoms can include talkativeness, decreased appetite and a pleasurable sense of well-being. Meth also speeds up the body’s systems to sometimes lethal levels by increasing blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates. The most prevalent drug combinations were commonly prescribed pills, like hydrocodone and oxycodone, mixed with depressants like benzodiazepines and psychostimulants that include amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Why is Rhino Horn So Expensive?

The most expensive legal drugs are tobacco, alcohol, and prescription painkillers. Not only that, but it can also do significant damage to various internal organs like the nose, throat, heart, gastrointestinal tract and lungs. According to the United Nations 2023 Global Report on Cocaine, use is on the rise and the number of cocaine dark market sites users is increasing faster than the population, the increased demand has also led to increased costs. “This is really a systemic issue — the exorbitant prices of insulin and barriers that make accessing the needed supplies and medications for diabetes are systemic issues that need systemic answers,” Mizokami-Stout said.

However, states generally must cover FDA-approved drugs for their medically accepted indications.77 States may not replace unreasonable limits on access to medically necessary drugs, such as those that are contrary to the professional standard of care. Although there is not one universally accepted definition, a specialty drug is generally considered to be a drug that requires difficult or unusual handling or is for a difficult-to-treat disease. Given that price factors into whether a drug is considered a specialty drug, it is not entirely surprising that so many of the most costly drugs are specialty drugs, and that many have a type of regulatory exclusivity. Of the 17 specialty drugs in the most costly drugs, none are multi-source generics (Appendix Table A1), and all but one are only available as branded single-source products with one labeler (data not shown).

Rhino horn is expensive due to its rarity and the high demand for it in certain parts of the world. In some cultures, it is believed to have medicinal properties, such as the ability to cure cancer or hangovers. This belief has led to an increase in demand, making it a lucrative business for poachers and traffickers.

Rarity

Rhinos are an endangered species, with only a few thousand left in the wild. This rarity makes their horns highly sought how to buy drugs on dark web after and expensive. Poachers often risk their lives to hunt down and kill these animals to harvest their horns.

High Demand

Despite scientific evidence debunking the medicinal properties of rhino horn, the demand for it remains high. In some countries, it is considered a status symbol, and its high price tag only adds to its allure. This high demand has led to an increase in poaching and trafficking, making it a significant problem for conservation efforts.

How Much Does Rhino Horn Cost?

Rhino horn can cost up to $300,000 per kilogram on the black market, making it the most expensive drug in the black market. This price is due to the rarity and high demand for the product.

FAQs

• What is rhino horn made of? Rhino horn is made where to get cocaine of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails.
• Is rhino horn legal? No, rhino horn is illegal to buy, sell, or possess in most countries. However, it is still traded on the black market.
• Is rhino horn effective in treating cancer? No, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that rhino horn can cure cancer or any other disease.

Conclusion

Rhino horn is the most expensive drug in the black market, with a price tag of up to $300,000 per kilogram. Its rarity and high demand have made it a lucrative business for poachers and traffickers, putting the already endangered species at risk. Despite its lack of medicinal properties, the belief in its effectiveness persists, leading to an increase in demand. It is crucial to raise awareness and support conservation efforts to protect these animals and their habitats.