How Public Turkish-Language Telegram Channels Organize Drug Trade-Facilitating Communication: A Qualitative Content Analysis
Substance Use and Misuse, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/10826084.2026.2714451
- Dergi Adı: Substance Use and Misuse
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, SportDiscus, Criminal Justice Periodical Index, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Criminology Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: digital drug markets, harm reduction, Illicit drugs, qualitative research, social media
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır
Özet
Background: The study aims to examine how publicly accessible Turkish-language Telegram channels organize communication related to illicit drug availability and access in Türkiye. Methods: We conducted an inductive qualitative content analysis of 3,204 text messages posted in 10 publicly accessible Turkish-language Telegram channels between 3 and 9 November 2025. Messages were retrieved using Telethon, coded in MAXQDA, and analyzed for recurrent patterns in visibility, trust claims, coded language, delivery, location signaling, medicalized framing, and related illicit activity. Results: The public communicative layer was predominantly seller-led and was used mainly to advertise illicit drugs, announce availability, signal location, claim reliability, warn about fraud, and direct users to more private forms of contact. Messages relied heavily on slang, abbreviations, and emoji-based codes. Sellers frequently used advertising-style language, rapid delivery claims, and brand-like identities to make access appear routine and manageable. Trust claims coexisted with warnings about scammers, police, and informants. Drug-related communication also appeared alongside other illicit offers, including fraud-related services, gambling, weapons, and sexualized solicitation. Conclusion: Public Turkish-language Telegram channels function less as open records of drug transactions than as a seller-led communicative layer through which visibility, trust, location, and contact pathways are publicly organized. These channels make illicit drug access appear searchable and manageable while redirecting interaction into less visible spaces and exposing users to broader digital risks.