Is it Sick to Buy Drugs from a Spammer?

We've all seen them: spam messages purporting to help us guys in the act of "getting it up". Although it's a legitimate problem and many men do turn to medication helping with erectile dysfunction, this segment of the male population typically, and wisely, consult their doctors for help.

But, what about those email messages that promise such medication so cheap? Do those actually work?

According to one curious and frisky Canadian research group, some of these spammers will in fact fill your order. The University of Toronto-based Centre for Global eHealth Innovation perused 4,000 spam messages before finally placing orders with 27 lucky agencies.

Although the reception rate wasn't all that high, it may have been better than we give most spammers credit for. One in three ultimately forwarded eHealth with a product. "We were very surprised to find you could get so much from these spammers," said Dr. Alejandro Jadad, one of the study's leaders. (Source: theglobeandmail.com)

The pills acquired (for between $64 and $140) include penis-enlargement drug Cialis, painkiller Tramadol, anxiety disorder pill Xanax, and others like Meridia, Anatrim, Hoodia, Valium, and even something called "ManXL". You can guess what that last one's for, and it ain't plugged sinuses.

Unfortunately, at this time none of the Canadian researchers know whether or not these pills are legit. Chemical tests won't be complete until the end of the year, but that information is expected to be published the same as this most recent news. The original study has already hit the pages of online medical journal PLoS Medicine. (Source: canadianpress.google.com)

So, thus far, would these researchers recommend buying drugs through a spammer?

"There are all kinds of nightmare examples out there...It might be funny if you're just trying to get an erection, but if you're trying to fix a heart problem it can be deadly," one researcher determined.

I don't know about you guys, but there's nothing funny about an erectile dysfunction pill gone wrong, either.