The drugs of choice for the MySpace generation: prescription painkillers (oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and methadone) and heroin. So says Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, the company behind a new drug addiction area of MySpace called Addiction411.
The site says it was developed to educate the public about dependence on opioids and provide “user-friendly” information on the dangers of drugs and how recreational use can turn to addiction. “The availability of this site comes at a perfect time considering the rate of prescription painkiller abuse has seen a drastic spike in recent years, particularly among the demographic of teens and young adults (16 – 25 years old) that utilize MySpace.”
What this really is: advertising revenue for MySpace and a marketing site for Suboxone and Subutex, two drugs that help fight painkiller addiction. Most of the links on the site forward on to TurnToHelp.com, another marketing site for Reckitt Benckiser.
If MySpace wants to be serious about addressing the issues facing its users, they should put up a non-sponsored resource. The function of Addiction411 is to sell more drugs, not necessarily to help users.