A recent press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a stark warning to health care officials, clinicians, and the public about the rising risk of overdose among individuals ordering counterfeit prescription medications from online pharmacies. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) previously announced criminal charges against 18 individuals operating illegal online pharmacies.
This warning has direct implications for sleep medicine physicians, since many patients with sleep disorders are prescribed controlled substances. It is unclear whether the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will tighten regulations around prescribing controlled substances via telehealth without an in-person evaluation, but policy changes could cause patients with sleep disorders to seek medications online.
According to the CDC’s statement, these illicit pharmacies are manufacturing, advertising, and distributing millions of counterfeit pills across the U.S. Many of these pills, which are falsely marketed as legitimate prescription medications, have been found to contain dangerous substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. The CDC highlighted that these counterfeit pills pose an extreme overdose risk, as buyers may unknowingly consume these lethal substances, leading to serious health complications or death. This alarming trend underscores the dangers of purchasing medications from unregulated online sources, as these counterfeit products often resemble legitimate drugs but contain highly toxic ingredients.
FDA’s BeSafeRx campaign helps consumers learn how to safely buy prescription medicines online. AASM members can send questions regarding counterfeit medications ordered online to coding@aasm.org.
