US authorities on Monday warned Americans to not buy prescription pills online because they increasingly include lethal doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said the advice applied to counterfeit medicine made to look like real Oxycontin, Vicodin and Xanax or Adderall.
Fake pills are widely available on social media and e-commerce platforms.
“Counterfeit pills that contain these dangerous and extremely addictive drugs are more lethal and more accessible than ever before,” said DEA administrator Anne Milgram in a statement.
“In fact, DEA lab analyses reveal that two out of every five fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.”
The rare public advisory—the first since 2015—comes as US drug overdose deaths soared to 93,000 last year, the highest ever level.
Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid most commonly found in counterfeit pills, is the primary driver of the rise, the DEA said.
Overdoses involving methamphetamine, increasingly found to be pressed into counterfeit tablets, are another factor.
More than 9.5 million counterfeit pills were seized so far this year, more than the last two years combined.
The vast majority were produced in Mexico, with China supplying chemicals for manufacturing fentanyl in Mexico.
© 2021 AFP
Citation: US warns Americans fake pills contain deadly fentanyl (2021, September 27) retrieved 1 October 2021 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-americans-fake-pills-deadly-fentanyl.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here
Aqua Original 4-in-1 Monterey Hammock Pool Float & Water Hammock – Multi-Purpose, Inflatable Pool Floats for…
$16.99 (as of June 28, 2024 21:10 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Amazon Echo Show 15 | Full HD 15.6" smart display with Alexa and Fire TV built in | Remote included
$279.99 (as of June 28, 2024 21:10 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Shark LA702 Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins HairPro & Odor Neutralizer Technology, Wine Purple, 0.8 Qt. Dust Cup - Wine (Renewed)
$169.00 (as of June 28, 2024 21:10 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder - Nintendo Switch (US Version)
$52.50 (as of June 28, 2024 21:10 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
