US Lawmakers Ask Amazon About Sale of Compound Used in Suicide

Editor’s word: This article accommodates discussions of suicide. If you or somebody you realize is having a disaster, please name the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or textual content the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

You may attain The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386. Counseling can also be obtainable 24/7 by way of chat on daily basis at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting 678-678.

A bipartisan group of seven lawmakers from the House of Representatives advised Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in a letter that they have been gravely involved over how simple and quick it was for individuals to purchase a chemical compound, which is authorized within the U.S., used to die by suicide on its platform, in response to a brand new report in the New York Times.

Published on Friday, the report states that Amazon didn’t take motion on the supply of the chemical compound on its platform after it was knowledgeable of the deaths and potential hazard related to the product by members of the family of the deceased and others. Most importantly, it discovered that sufficient individuals had purchased the chemical compound to kill themselves that Amazon’s algorithm started recommending different merchandise that customers purchased to assist them take their lives.

In addition, Rep. Lori Trahan, Democrat of Massachusetts, advised the outlet that there are claims that evaluations warning others concerning the product have been eliminated on Amazon.

The lawmakers requested Jassy for extra info on gross sales of the chemical compound and associated suicides. They additionally need to know the way it dealt with the potential risks surrounding the product and the complaints it obtained.

The Times discovered that no less than 10 individuals had killed themselves utilizing the chemical compound after shopping for it on Amazon prior to now two years. Gizmodo has chosen to not title the substance out of an abundance of warning and sensitivity for these battling ideas of suicide. As of Friday, the substance was nonetheless obtainable on Amazon.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones personally affected by suicide,” an Amazon spokesperson advised Gizmodo in an announcement on Friday. The spokesperson added that the chemical compound “is commonly used to preserve foods such as meats and fish, and can also be used in laboratories as a reagent. It is a widely available product offered by retailers, and unfortunately, like many products, it can be misused.”

The firm identified that it requires its companions to comply with the regulation and its personal insurance policies when promoting on Amazon. It additionally acknowledged that it had offered prospects in disaster with varied assets, equivalent to together with a banner underneath sure search ends in its retailer with the cellphone quantity for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

One of my searches on Amazon did certainly present the hotline quantity. However, my search additionally introduced up extraordinarily alarming and triggering content material, together with specific strategies that assured loss of life, on suicide as one of many first outcomes. We’ve adopted up with Amazon to ask why such a content material stays on its platform.

Trahan defined to the Times that lawmakers have been specializing in Amazon as a result of they consider the platform is the one most frequently used to acquire the chemical compound shortly, in addition to over issues raised by households and others that product evaluations urging warning have been eliminated.

“Amazon had the opportunity with their response to collaborate with us on this issue that’s tragically ending the lives of people across our nation,” Trahan advised the outlet. “Instead, they failed to answer many of our most critical questions.”

As somebody who has struggled with suicidal ideas prior to now, I can guarantee you that’s not useful to have a chemical compound like this obtainable on the click on of a button with lightning-fast supply. It’s dangerous and harmful. Furthermore, failing to acknowledge or have a dialog on what’s being accomplished with these merchandise, and taking acceptable motion, can price individuals their lives.

To all of those that are battling suicidal ideas, you aren’t alone. Help is available and it could actually make a distinction. Take it from somebody who’s been there and who’s, gratefully, nonetheless right here.