Emerging Dangers from Direct Botulinum Access and Use

Liang Bryan A., Mackey Timothy K. and Lovett Kimberly
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Liang Bryan A.: California Western School of Law, University of California, San Diego
Mackey Timothy K.: California Western School of Law, University of California, San Diego
Lovett Kimberly: Kaiser Permanente, UCSD School of Medicine

Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 2012, vol. 9, issue 1, 8

Abstract: Botulinum toxin (BTX-A) is the most deadly substance known. Yet it has clinical applications, particularly cosmetic uses. With the latter’s exploding popularity, unauthorized BTX-A is emerging from suspect sources. In combination with the Internet as a virtually unregulated marketplace, BTX-A is available for direct purchase and use. This represents a safety threat against individuals and civil society. Since extant technology and Internet marketing can easily target individual consumers by changing BTX-A concentration and pose risks for society by scaling up production for terrorist purposes, BTX-A availability is a homeland security threat. To address this, BTX-A should be deemed a controlled substance subjecting it to track-and-trace and other requirements. Simultaneously, this categorization would subject it to federal law requiring Drug Enforcement Agency registration and state licensure for sales. This relatively simple step can be a strategy adopted for other high risk materials and an international approach to limit the availability of potentially harmful materials.

Keywords: botulinum toxin; internet pharmacy; bitoterrorism; homeland security; health law; health policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1515/1547-7355.1973

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