United States: Health officials are now warning Americans who rely on online pharmacies as a cheaper source of expensive opium-based prescription drugs may just be falling into a trap of receiving potentially poisonous substances that may lead to an opium overdose.
The warning was released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes after a federal indictment was unsealed last week that charged 18 people involved in operating a multimillion-dollar Internet drug peddling ring.
As reported by the HealthDay, the victims are individuals of all ages and many professions: ordinary citizens and professionals, residents of all 50 states and several overseas territories including the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Germany as well as Slovenia, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice releasing the indictment.
“Authorities say at least nine people who believed they were buying oxycodone from the defendants actually got fentanyl and died of narcotics overdose including a 45-year-old mother of three, ex- army veteran who thought she was ingesting real oxycodone.”
In its warning, CDC said that the counterfeit pills often contain fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid that is even stronger than heroin and morphine and methamphetamine.
The problem is pervasive: Based on the NABoP’s research, currently approximately 95% of websites offering prescription medications and drugs are illegitimate, and 24% of web consumers in America who have used an online pharmacy have been given counterfeit, toxic or substandard medications.
Therefore, people should ensure they use only drugs which have been recommended by a healthcare practitioner and dispensed by a pharmacy, according to the CDC.
What should you do if you have purchased things that you thought where prescriptions from an online pharmacy? The CDC recommends:
Check to see if the pharmacy is state-licensed and if you got the medications from a pharmacy that is not licensed and do not consume the medication.
If you think you have counterfeit drugs and dispose of them safely.
Always have the naloxone an opioid reversal drug with you and it should be given immediately to anyone who shows the signs of an opioid overdose. Always have someone nearby whenever you take an unknown medication and in case of emergency.
Call 911 and the medical attention immediately if you think you have been already poisoned.
For the questions about an unknown substance and contact Poison control.