More than 40,000 people die each year from unintentional poisoning, including by unknowingly purchasing counterfeit drugs online (as discussed in our “Real People Affected by Rogue Online Pharmacies” series). Due to this problem and the threat of other poisons found in the home, the National Poison Prevention Week Council has been helping to prevent poisonings by spearheading “National Poison Prevention Week” for the past 50 years. The council is made up of representatives from industry, government, non-profit, and health organizations and March 16-22 marked an annual push to educate the public on fake medicines and other common poisons.

According to the 2014 proclamation, written by President Barack Obama, “During National Poison Prevention Week, we do our part to remain vigilant, ask our loved ones to use common-sense precautions, and learn about the potentially life-saving action we can take in case of emergency.” To confirm his commitment to fighting counterfeit drugs, President Obama signed The Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) into law earlier this year, which calls for the creation of a track-and-trace system to help authorities catch counterfeit or stolen pharmaceuticals that increasingly have been making their way into the U.S. The new law also seeks to make clearer how compounding pharmacies – which produce drugs on site – are regulated.

At CSIP, we believe that a coordinated approach from all stakeholders is needed to strengthen efforts to secure the global supply chain and protect patients. CSIP and our members will continue to do our part in the fight against fake medicines and in educating consumers about the risks and dangers of rogue online pharmacies.

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The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and our 13 member companies have the shared goal of helping address the growing problem of consumer access to illegitimate pharmaceutical products on the Internet. Continue to read this blog for updates on CSIP’s education, enforcement and information-sharing efforts.