In a new study, researchers found that lifesaving insulin is frequently being sold on Craigslist for a fraction of its list price.
The findings show how the high cost of insulin has strained families and maybe pushing them to risky behavior to get the medication at a price they can afford.
The research was conducted by a team at ChristianaCare and Jefferson College of Population Health.
People with type 1 diabetes must take the medication daily to regulate their blood sugar levels.
People with type 2 diabetes may also need insulin, though many cases can be managed through other medications and lifestyle changes.
But insulin is quite expensive. The most commonly prescribed “analog” insulins can cost hundreds of dollars a vial without insurance.
Analog insulin, as opposed to the less expensive natural insulin, is made in the lab, engineered to act more predictably in the body.
People with Type 1 diabetes may need two or three vials a month, though amounts vary by person.
Even with insurance, the costs can be prohibitive for people who have high-deductible health plans or who want a brand that is not their insurance plan’s preferred option.
In the study, the team looked only at seller activity on Craigslist, not the motivation of buyers.
They combed Craigslist for ads selling insulin and found 432 ads in 240 cities in 31 states.
Nearly three-quarters of the ads, a total of 311 posts, were for analog insulin, such as Lantus and Humalog—two popular brands.
The team found that a vial of analog insulin was being sold for an average of $30—compared with an average list price of $400.
They also found the reasons sellers stated for why they were selling insulin.
Some sellers indicated they wanted to sell their extra doses for the month because they needed the money to afford another insurance copay or other monthly expenses.
They warn that insulin must be stored at a specific temperature to maintain its effectiveness, and second-hand medications could be less effective.
Buying insulin on Craigslist requires no prescription, adding to the danger. Using insulin improperly can lead to coma and even death.
The team says sellers could be taking a serious risk if they are people with diabetes using less than their prescribed dosage of insulin so they can sell some of it online.
It’s illegal and against Craigslist policy to sell prescription drugs through the website.
One author of the study is Rosemary Frasso, program director of public health at Jefferson College of Population Health.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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