Dr. Eboni Green
April 3, 2023
Medication is a significant part of many caregivers’ responsibilities. Unfortunately, fake medication is a problem that has plagued many patients in the US and worldwide. Below, we’ll explain what everyone should know about counterfeit drugs and how they can identify and report them.
Whether you’re familiar with the issue or not, counterfeit drugs are a significant problem in the industry. As the use of prescription drugs has risen to be more prevalent than ever before, so have counterfeiters and scammers.
Counterfeit drugs are an issue in the US and worldwide. Federal agencies like the FDA and Interpol seize counterfeit drugs, assets, and funds worldwide. The current problem is the rise of online drug marketplaces, which has helped many people find more affordable medication but also makes scamming buyers easier. Those who purchase drugs anywhere besides a brick-and-mortar pharmacy must be vigilant of counterfeit medication.
Counterfeit drugs are not just a scam that can dupe patients out of the valuable medicine they need; they can also cause significant harm. Even in cases where counterfeit drugs are harmless placebos, the fake medicine can permanently harm patients needing prescription drugs to ensure their health and quality of life.
In many cases, counterfeit drugs are also manufactured in unsafe conditions, leading to patients consuming medications tainted with harmful contaminants. Everyone in the industry, including drugmakers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and patients, must be wary of counterfeit medication.
Fortunately, many resources are available to patients, healthcare providers, and caregivers to identify and report counterfeit medication to remove it from the drug supply and apprehend the culprits. Drugmakers have adopted strategies to deter counterfeit drugs, like laser coding pills with the pharmaceutical imprint code.
If you purchase drugs from an online marketplace, confirm the product’s authenticity with the drug’s imprint code or text the 10-digit National Drug Code on the packaging to the Drug Technical Advisory Board number. If you believe you’ve purchased counterfeit drugs, you can report it to the FDA’s MedWatch program online.
There’s much to know about counterfeit drugs, but we’ve reviewed the basic things everyone should know. If you’d like to learn more about counterfeit medication and how to fight it, there are many online resources available courtesy of the pharmaceutical industry and law enforcement agencies like the FDA.
