Thirty three parents from Philadelphia and suburbs participated. In surveys collected prior to the training, participants reported using an average of four prevention strategies for protecting their children from Internet drug sites. Forty-two percent reported that prescription narcotics could not be obtained by children through the Internet.

Following the training, parents reported they would use nine of the prevention strategies suggested in the training with some reporting intention to use all 19. All participants reported they would recommend the program to other parents.

Patapis developed “WebSafe Philly” based on years of research by TRI investigators into Internet pharmacies where prescription drugs are available for no-questions-asked purchase. “Many parents are not aware these pharmacies exist or that they’re accessible to even the novice Internet user – including teenagers,” Patapis said. “In fact, the sites are no different from conventional drug dealers - they operate on profit motive and care only about ability to pay - not the age of the customer, health status, whether or not there is a doctor’s prescription or what a buyer intends to do with the drugs. And most of the drugs they sell are just as addictive and pose the same threat of overdose as street drugs - including heroin,” Patapis said.