The Internet and Health Health On The Internet Henry Hoang Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet Robert Magzanyan Drugs and Online Pharmacies Ron Johnson.

1

The Internet and Health

Health On The InternetHenry Hoang

Self-Diagnosis Through The InternetRobert Magzanyan

Drugs and Online PharmaciesRon Johnson

Enhancement: Is It For Real Tom Gruber

2

The Internet and Health

Health On The Internet

Henry Hoang

3

The Internet and Health

Henry Hoang

4

The Internet and Health: There is a wealth of information available on the internet.

Health Care is just another topic that is a part of this wealth.

A Google search for “health” yields over 1.1 billion results.

A Yahoo search yields over 6.9 billion results

5

The Internet and Health:

Information available ranges from locating health care facilities to diagnosing and treating illness and disorders.

You can even compare and purchase health insurance from the comfort of your own home through the internet.

The Internet has made it possible to make vital information widely available and Health Care is definitely vital.

6

Most Searched Terms

1 Fat Embolism A process by which fat tissue passes into the bloodstream and lodges within a blood vessel

2 Impotence is a common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse

3 Parenting and healthy eating as nutrition experts suggest ways parents can learn how to get kids to go

4 Ringworm refers to fungal infections that are on the surface of the skin.

5 Bed Bugs Bed bugs are small, oval, wingless insects of the family Cimicidae, which have a flat, reddish-brown body and feed on human and animal blood

6 Diet and Weight Loss

7 Eating Healthy Living

8 Health News Health Magazine

7

Top Viewed Articles 1 Diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels

2 Quitting Smoking

3 MRSA for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. This organism is known for causing skin infections in addition to many other types of infections

4 High Blood Pressure High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries

5 ADHD- refers to a chronic biobehavioral disorder that initially manifests in childhood and is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention

8

The Internet and Health

Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet

Robert Magzanyan

9

Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet

Many medical websites allow the visitor to check off their symptoms in order to identify their possible condition.

This isn’t necessarily a replacement for your family doctor.

It allows the average person to get an idea of their condition.

10

Self-DiagnosisSome websites even allow you to communicate with real doctors.

We even have access to videos on healthcare.

You can learn how to diagnose and treat simple illnesses yourself.

It can help save a trip to the doctor’s office.

The internet can also help with first aid and emergency preparedness.

11

Self-Diagnosis typical stepsLog on to a health/medical website (in this case www.webmd.com)

12

Click on symptoms…

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Drugs!Online Pharmacies

and

Related Internet Activities having to do with drugs

21

How they compare

Community Pharmacy

Dispenses Drugs

Brick and Mortar

Face to Face

Requires Prescription to be presented

Pick up your Drugs

Online Pharmacy

Dispenses Drugs

No “Store”

Never see the Pharmacist

Don’t always require a Prescription

Drugs are mailed to you

22

Why Online?

To save money

Uninsured and Underinsured Americans

Easily a 50 to 80% saving (Canadian)

More in South Africa, India, Thailand, others

Favored by Consumers and Legislators

WSJ/Harris poll (2006) – 80% favorable

Federal Budget supports foreign purchase

Sales estimated at $75 billion

23

Online Drugs and the LawIt is illegal to purchase drugs from overseas pharmacies

Violates 2 or 3 federal laws

Rarely enforced

Importing prescription drugs is allowed From Canada

Personal use (90 day supply)

Copy of prescription

Drug and Firm approved by FDA

Final finished dosage

FDA can ensure the public safety

24

-- Email Gangs --Buyer Beware!!!

The Canadian pharmacy advertised in an email – isn’t – necessarily.

FDA has approved lists of valid Canadian pharmacies.

Russian gangs run pharmacies through email spam.

Will never send drugs or will send reduced strength or even placebos

Watch especially for ads for Viagra, Cialis, Vicodin or Oxycontin.

25

HMOs in the Act

Many health plans now use the Internet to support Online Pharmacies.

Reduced co-pays with online ordering

Prescriptions sent through US Mail

90 day prescription refills common

Usually 1/3 off from normal co-pay

Almost always postage paid – even more money saved.

Suppose that when you arrive at work one day, there’s a

stranger there who says …

Pee in the cup, Please.

27

You can be ready!

28

Try FirstCheck first.

Order the kit from the website

It arrives by US Mail

Pee in the cup

Wait 1 hour

Check for “Preliminary Positives”

Attach an identifying number and mail in

In a few days, check professional lab results on website using identifying #

29

Try FirstCheck first.

Completely confidential

Test for up to 12 controlled substances with each test.

A description of each “actual positive” is provided in a complete report

Details of the meaning and effect of each positive is included.

firstcheck.com

30

The Internet and Health

Enhancement: Is it for Real?

Tom Gruber

The Internet and Health:Enhancement: Is it for Real?

31

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

The ‘Business’ PlanThe Methods

Misleading or False Subject Lines

Subterfuge in Content

Using Porn for Bait

No Actual Business Name

No BBB Membership

Who Would Want to Do Business with Them?

32

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

The ‘Business’ PlanTheir Problem

Violation of CAN-SPAM– contains false or misleading transmission

information;– contains deceptive subject headings;– fails to contain functioning opt-out mechanisms or

did not contain any opt-out mechanisms;– fails to identify the e-mail as an advertisement or

solicitation– fails to provide the sender’s valid physical postal

address.CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/15C103.txt

33

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

The ‘Business’ PlanTheir Solution

They Want Your Email Address– Images– Actually Clicking on Something (Porn Angle)

Buying Something– An Afterthought

34

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

The Problem 1

Identity TheftIf You Buy..

– Name, Address, Payment Information

Scams– They Receive Payment– You Do Not Receive the Goods

1. Donald E. deKieffer, Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 19, No. 3, 171-177 (2006

35

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

The ProblemCounterfeit

Looks Like the Real thing– Sugar Pill– Poison

‘Generic’– Licensing– Questionable Ingredients and Effectiveness– Sugar Pill– Poison

36

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

Your ProblemWhy Do They Expect You to Click?

Locker Room Syndrome– His is Bigger Than Mine– That which is huge today will take much

greater effort to erect as one gets older.

Honest Problem – A DysfunctionSee Your Doctor

– Early Warning Signs

Risks

Wanjek, Christopher , Penis Enlargement Products Come Up Short, Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

The SolutionTurn Off Loading Images

Thunderbird: Tools, Options, Advanced,Config Editor, Promise You Will Be Careful.

Type in: mailnews.message_display.disable_remote_image, Right Click, Toggle It From False to True

You: Be Prompted

Turn On for that SenderSeasider, Disable "load images" on Thunderbird 38

The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real?

You, PersonallyThere is more to you than your external organs

Augustine the Gardener

Disable Auto Image Loading

Don’t Play Into Their Hands(Better Yours and Hers/ His / Whoever's)

– Than Theirs

Sade, Philosophy in the Bedroom

39

The Internet and Health:References

JD deKieffer, Donald E., THE INTERNET AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF COUNTERFEIT DRUGS, Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 19, No. 3, 171-177 (2006)

http://jpp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/short/19/3/171

K Promodu, K V Shanmughadas, S Bhat and K R Nair, Penile length and circumference: an Indian study, International Journal of Impotence Research 19, 558-563 (November/December 2007)

http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v19/n6/full/3901569a.html

Seasider, Disable "load images" on Thunderbird?, 2 Years Ago, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081024130646AA6oVAs

Wanjek, Christopher , Penis Enlargement Products Come Up Short, 20FEB2007, Live Science

http://www.livescience.com/health/070220_bad_mad_column.html

Z Awwad1, M Abu-Hijleh2, S Basri2, N Shegam3, M Murshidi1 and K Ajlouni3 , Penile measurements in normal adult Jordanians and in patients with erectile dysfunction , International Journal of Impotence Research (2005) 17, 191–195

http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v17/n2/full/3901272a.html

40

The Internet and Health:References

Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction - Vacuum Devices http://www.cornellurology.com/sexualmedicine/ed/vacuum.shtml

WebMD, Male Enhancement: Is It Worth a Try?http://men.webmd.com/features/male-enhancement-is-it-worth-try

41