Counterfeit Drugs

1. Counterfeit Drugs Megan Penecale

2. What is it? • People sell fake drugs online or on the streets for cheaper price so people purchase them rather the real drug. • Typically older people fall for this because of all their expensive prescriptions • The fake medicine usually contain either the wrong ingredient or no ingredient at all. It could also be the wrong dosage too.

3. Current Scams • Teva’s Adderall is counterfeit – the packaging and pills look different from the real product, misspellings on the packages. • A counterfeit drug for Alli did not contain the active drug for the real product. Packaging was different and had misspellings. Also, the pills were larger and had different stuff inside of the them.

4. How to Avoid/Prevent • Know what your packaging looks like. If it looks different it is probably counterfeit. • Know what your medication looks like. • Only buy your medicine from a safe business, not on the streets or online unless told otherwise. • If you think you have bought a counterfeit drug, report it.

5. Statistics • The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that 30 percent of the drugs sold across Latin America are counterfeits. • A report in the New York Times stated that the price of one Viagra pill when purchased through an insurance company is between $29 to $49 in copayments. When Viagra is purchased on online pharmacies, the price is about $10. Pfizer, the maker of the drug, conducted a survey of 22 websites that were offering Viagra in 2011. According to their survey, 80 percent of the pills purchased from these sites were counterfeit dugs. In these fake pills, the active ingredient of sildenafil citrate only made up to half of the drug. • Up to 40 million prescriptions in the United States are filled with counterfeit drugs each year, according to a white paper by Create.org. In FY2011, counterfeit drugs consisted of 9 percent of all counterfeit goods seized by US Customs.

7. Frequently Asked Questions Q. Are counterfeit drugs dangerous? • Yes because they could have a completely different drug in it making it a completely different drug. Also, the dosage could be higher, putting the individual at risk. Q. Are counterfeit drugs a big problem in the US? • Drugs in the US are generally safe. In 1990 the FDA found about 5 cases a year and in 2000 it moved up to at least 20 cases a year. Q. How can I tell if my drugs are counterfeit? • Take them to your local pharmacists and show them. They will know what your drug is supposed to look like. And if your drugs are counterfeit, report it immediately.

8. Citations http://www.fraud.org/learn/counterfeit-drugs http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/counterfeitmedicine/default.htm http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/counterfeitmedicine/default.htm http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm305932.htm http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2010/ucm197857.htm http://www.fda.gov/ucm/groups/fdagov-public/documents/image/ucm305962.jpg http://www.fda.gov/ucm/groups/fdagov-public/documents/image/ucm197858.jpg http://www.fda.gov/ucm/groups/fdagov-public/documents/image/ucm197859.jpg http://www.havocscope.com/tag/counterfeit-drugs/ http://healthcareindia-drruchibhatt.blogspot.com/2011/02/mhealth-india-counterfeit-drugs-check.html http://bambooinnovator.com/2013/05/29/africas-malaria-battle-fake-drug-pipeline-undercuts-progress/ http://thekularingtradeblog.com/tag/black-market/ http://www.safemedicines.org/2013/04/united-nations-report-on-east-asian-organized-crime-criminal-made-5-billion-in-fake-drug-profits-529.html