Online Shopping and the Rising Risk of Counterfeit Medicines

The threat of counterfeit medicines is everywhere. Fake medicines are easier to get, harder to spot, and a bigger risk to patients than ever before with the rise of online shopping. According to research from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, there are roughly 35,000 active online pharmacies and 95% of them are operating unlawfully. For patients, the convenience of shopping online for medicine can often mask the risks.

Counterfeit medicines are essentially fake or substandard products that are deliberately mislabeled to resemble authentic products. They are often manufactured using low-quality or ineffective ingredients, lacking the necessary active components or containing harmful substances. These products are designed to deceive patients, with packaging and labeling closely resembling the genuine medications. Patients are often acting in their best interest by trying to get legitimate medicines, but the result of taking a counterfeit medicine could have long-term detrimental effects. Physicians play a crucial role in raising awareness about this issue and taking proactive measures to protect patients from the dangers of these fake medicines.

Counterfeiters don’t care if it works or if it’s safe. They care that it looks good enough to trick you into thinking it’s the real medicine, so awareness is key to ensuring patients know what to look for and understand the risks. Conversations around fake medicines have long focused on older adults, but we are increasingly seeing adolescents being targeted by counterfeiters. With the rise in fentanyl trafficking, this has made counterfeiting even more dangerous. According to the DEA, more than 40% of black-market prescription pills contain lethal amounts of fentanyl, and the CDC has reported that many of the people who are dying due to fentanyl are 14- to 23-year-olds.

There are several other steps we can take to help stem this threat to patient safety. Working together, we can advocate for robust regulations and rigorous quality control measures throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain; encourage the use of track-and-trace technologies, serialization, and authentication systems to help identify counterfeit products and ensure patient safety; and actively report any suspected cases of counterfeit medicines to the appropriate regulatory authorities.

Collaboration with regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers is essential to combat the complex network of counterfeit drug trafficking.

We all have a part to play to stem the tide of counterfeit medicines and save lives in the process. By helping to educate patients, advocating for stronger regulations, and actively reporting suspected cases, we can help protect patients from the potential risks associated with counterfeit medications.