November 1, 2024

In addition to prioritizing safety in the workplace, we also encourage you to prioritize your own safety outside of work.

Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a Public Safety Alert on Illegal online pharmacies that are increasingly selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting customers in the United States.

Often these illegal online websites use U.S. website addresses and professional-looking designs to appear legitimate when, in fact, they are not. Counterfeit medications can result in significant health dangers, such as harmful side effects, ineffective treatment, and even death.

It can be hard to spot illegal pharmacies, but the DEA says there are a few red flags:

• Sells prescription drugs without requiring a valid prescription from a healthcare provider
• Offers much cheaper prices than what is typically seen in the market
• Lists prices in a foreign currency
• Does not contain proof of a valid pharmacy state license or DEA registration
• Medicine arrives in broken or damaged packaging or in a foreign language
• Medicine does not have an expiration date or is expired
• Medicine looks different from what you have received in the past from your trusted pharmacist

If you have purchased supposed alleged medication from any of these websites, you should immediately stop using it and contact your local DEA office or report the incident here.

To learn more about this significant public safety threat, visit the DEA’s web page https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-issues-warning-about-illegal-online-pharmacies. 

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