ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning on Wednesday, telling customers to be wary of online pharmacies that could be selling counterfeit pills.
The warning comes days after the Department of Justice indicted individuals running such pharmacies which they linked to the deaths of at least nine people between August 2023 and June 2024.
According to the DOJ, the indicted individuals advertised, manufactured, sold, and shipped millions of counterfeit pills to consumers who believed they were buying real medications. The fake pills frequently contained fentanyl, a potentially dangerous narcotic, rather than the medications they were meant to. Individuals taking these fake pills risked an overdose.
These fake online pharmacies claim they are selling the drugs at deeply discounted prices and frequently do not require a prescription to order, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy says that nearly 95% of "websites offering prescription only drugs online operate illegally."
In Connecticut this September, the Drug Enforcement Agency announced the arrest of seven people in East Haven tied to a fake drug manufacturing ring.
There are ways to protect yourself from these scams and the CDC offers the following advice:
- Check to see if the pharmacy is U.S. state-licensed and do not use any medication purchased from an unlicensed pharmacy.
- If you suspect you have counterfeit pills from an illegal online pharmacy, do not take them. Dispose of them safely.
- Beware of online pharmacies that:
- Do not require a doctor’s prescription.
- Are not licensed in the U.S. and by your state board of pharmacy.
- Offer deep discounts or prices that seem too good to be true.
- Always have naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, with you. Naloxone should be given immediately in response to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose. Always have someone nearby whenever you are ingesting any unknown substance or medication in case of emergency.
- In case of a poisoning emergency, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.
- For questions about an unknown substance, contact Poison Control (call 1-800-222-1222 or visit https://poisoncenters.org).