DEA Warns that Criminal Drug Networks are Flooding the United States with Lethal Counterfeit Pills


Safety News Related Images

broccoli stuffed chicken breast
male to male extension cord
watchcare smart pad
One Pill Can Kill Campaign
One Pill Can Kill Campaign

The Drug Enforcement Administration warns the American public of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. International and domestic criminal drug networks are mass-producing fake pills, falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills, and killing unsuspecting Americans. These counterfeit pills are easy to purchase, widely available, and often contain deadly doses of fentanyl. Pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous, and potentially lethal. This alert does not apply to legitimate pharmaceutical medications prescribed by medical professionals and dispensed by pharmacists.

DEA and its law enforcement partners are seizing deadly fake pills at record rates. More than 9.5 million counterfeit pills were seized so far this year, which is more than the last two years combined. Officials report a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills containing at least two milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a deadly dose. The number of DEA-seized counterfeit pills with fentanyl has jumped nearly 430 percent since 2019, a staggering increase. DEA laboratory testing further reveals that today, two out of every five pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. Additionally, methamphetamine is increasingly being pressed into counterfeit pills.

Some of the most common counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), and alprazolam (Xanax®); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®). Fake prescription pills are widely accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms – making them available to anyone with a smartphone, including teens and young adults. These counterfeit pills have been seized by DEA in every U.S. state, and in unprecedented quantities. 

Drug traffickers are using fake pills to exploit the opioid crisis and prescription drug misuse in the United States, bringing overdose deaths and violence to American communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last year more than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, marking the largest number of drug-related deaths ever recorded in a year. Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid most commonly found in counterfeit pills, is the primary driver of this alarming increase in overdose deaths. Drug trafficking is also inextricably linked with violence. This year alone, DEA seized more than 2700 firearms in connection with drug trafficking investigations – a 30 percent increase since 2019. DEA remains steadfast in its mission to protect our communities, enforce U.S. drug laws, and bring to justice the foreign and domestic criminals sourcing, producing, and distributing these deadly fake pills.

The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. Any pills that do not meet this standard are unsafe and potentially deadly. DEA has launched the public awareness campaign, One Pill Can Kill, to educate the public on dangers of counterfeit pills and how to keep Americans safe. For more information, visit DEA.gov/onepill.

**The Drug Enforcement Administration ensures the safety and health of the American public by fighting against violent criminal drug networks and foreign cartels trafficking in illicit drugs. To accomplish that mission, the Drug Enforcement Administration employs approximately 10,000 men and women throughout the world – Special Agents, diversion investigators, intelligence analysts, and chemists – across 239 domestic offices in 23 U.S. divisions and 91 foreign offices in 68 countries.  

Source: DEA


Related Posts

recalled corned beef and chicken spread
Health Alert for Ineligible Illegally Imported Meat and Poultry Products from the Philippines
Health Alert for Ineligible Illegally Imported Meat and Poultry Products from the Philippines
farmstead local label
Public Health Alert For Not-Ready-To-Eat Pork And Beef Bacon Products
Public Health Alert For Not-Ready-To-Eat Pork And Beef Bacon Products
southwestern style with chicken and caesar salad
Public Health Alert For Southwestern Style Salad Bowls With Chicken
Public Health Alert For Southwestern Style Salad Bowls With Chicken
wow bao bao thai style curry chicken
Public Health Alert for Frozen Ready-To-Eat Bao Curry Chicken Products
Public Health Alert for Frozen Ready-To-Eat Bao Curry Chicken Products

Latest Posts

texarones born in the philippines fried pork skin product
Pork Dynasty Inc. Recalls Texarones Born in the Philippines Fried Pork Skin Products
multi grip tub safety bar
Liberty Hardware Recalls Multi-Grip Tub Safety Bars Due to Fall Hazard
john deere compact utility tractor
John Deere Recalls Compact Utility Tractors
grabeez the big cheese snack mix cup
Truly Good Foods recalls Some 3.25oz Packages of Grabeez The Big Cheese Snack Mix Cups
veklury 100mg
Gilead Recalls One Lot of Veklury (Remdesivir)

One Reply to “DEA Warns that Criminal Drug Networks are Flooding the United States with Lethal Counterfeit Pills”

Lucrecia

Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good site!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Are Leaving Us

This link is being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only it is not an endorsement or an approval of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual.

Recallinsider.com bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links.