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News -
Enforcement and takedowns
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Written by Danielle Douglas
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Wednesday, 18 March 2009 14:57 |
The FBI seems to be doing a soft-shoe shuffle with the recent release of its public safety announcement on how to spot an illegal online pharmacy. The agency certainly gives a basic framework of the hazards of e-pharma: the proliferation of counterfeit or expired drugs and the lack of proper medical oversight. But where the FBI falls short is in detailing the illegality of rogue pharmacies and what is being done to stop them.
There is no mention of the Ryan Haight Act, which allows customers to know they are doing business with a trusted, legitimate pharmacy. Considering this bill goes into effect next month, promotion makes the most sense. The public should be made aware of the government’s efforts to address this issue.
While the bill primarily gives the DEA a bit more teeth to enforce rules around legal operation and distribution of controlled substances, both agencies will likely work in concert. “We work—and train—with federal investigators from our partner agencies. We also work closely with state and local law enforcement, and, because many illegal online pharmacies have global connections, we often coordinate with our overseas partners,” says the FBI.
The agency does mention one of its cases, where 18 people were indicted in August 2007 for operating an illegal online pharmacy that netted more than $126 million over a two-year period. Still, given the timing of the release it would have been wise to highlight one of the government’s more notable efforts to curb illegal prescription drug sales.
The most useful aspect of the FBI’s PSA is the how-to approach for buying legit drugs.
Legitimate pharmacies:
• Require a prescription from a licensed doctor, usually by mail (if they accept a fax copy, they will always call your doctor to verify the prescription)
• Make you submit a detailed medical history
• Clearly state their payment, privacy, and shipping fees on their sites; and
• Use secure or encrypted website connections for transactions.
The FBI notes that many legitimate online pharmacies are also certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which posts a listing of legit sites on its website.
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Last Updated on Friday, 20 March 2009 13:32 |
