Online pharmacies provide a convenient, private and affordable way to purchase drugs so long as it is safe and legal. Consumers search online for the name of a drug, which connects them to numerous pharmacies selling prescription drugs online. So how can we tell which online pharmacy is trustworthy and legitimate. Researchers Ivanitskaya et al conducted a study to find out how well university students could identify which online pharmacy sites are safe and which sites are fraud. Their results showed educated students had difficulty identifying trustworthy Internet pharmacies because the bogus Internet pharmacies closely resemble the legitimate ones. If educated students cannot recognize reputable Internet pharmacy sites, then the average consumer is at greater risk for buying harmful drugs from bogus online pharmacies.
Regulating Online Pharmacies
Consumers want the tremendous benefits of purchasing drugs from reputable online pharmacies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with other federal agencies to pass laws that regulate the practice of online pharmacies to protect consumers from purchasing unsafe drugs. Currently, the FDA will take action against any online pharmacy that sells, distributes or imports counterfeit, impure or unapproved drugs. The FDA will also take action against any online pharmacy that promotes illegal drugs or dispenses any prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Consumers can report a suspicious Internet pharmacy site to the FDA or to the National Association of Boards and Pharmacy (see Resources).
Public Health Risks
Since 1999, FDA and other federal agencies have enhanced enforcement through surveillance and monitoring programs. These agencies have already taken action against several online pharmacies. Some felony counts include contraceptive patches that contained no active ingredients to prevent pregnancy; selling misbranded drugs, counterfeit drugs and drugs not approved by the FDA; selling prescription drugs without a prescription from a doctor; selling impure drugs caused by improper packaging, storing and labeling; importing and selling unapproved drugs; failure to register manufacturing drug facilities and repackaging drug facilities with the FDA. These are just a few examples of potential harmful risks for buying drugs from unregulated online pharmacies.
How Can We Protect Ourselves?
The best way is to find a reputable online pharmacy using the "Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site" known as VIPPS. The VIPPS program operates under the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy that work closely with the FDA to accredit online pharmacies. VIPPS provides a list of trustworthy online pharmacy sites and ones to stay away from (see Resources).However, not all trustworthy pharmacies have been accredited yet by VIPPS. So here are a few facts to know when buying drugs online. Only buy drugs from online sites that are located in the United States. Do not buy prescription drugs from online pharmacy sites that will sell them without a prescription. Only use sites that have a licensed pharmacist to answer questions by phone or online. It is illegal to buy prescription drugs from other countries.
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