Counterfeit medication is a major global public health and international trade issue. Every type of drug is susceptible to forgery, from antibiotics to anti-anxiety medicine. At their best, falsified drugs have none or too little of an active ingredient; at their worst, they contain life-threatening poisons. Furthermore, recent studies indicate there is a substantial knowledge gap and a lack of consumer understanding about fake medicines.

The drug manufacturer, Sanofi, commissioned a study of more than 10,000 people worldwide to gauge their understanding of counterfeit medicines. Their findings were cause for concern. For instance, 89% of Asians surveyed were aware that counterfeit drugs existed, compared to 66% of Europeans and only 47% of Americans.

Citizen awareness in the U.S. and Europe could make all the difference. The Sanofi survey reveals that Asians buy more drugs online than Americans or Europeans, but the majority also understand the risk. Europeans and Americans, even if careful, were less aware of the fact that there was a risk involved.

How can this be? Americans enjoy some of the strongest regulatory and enforcement systems in the world. What many of us don’t realize is that most drugs purchased online come from countries with lax regulatory systems, increasing the probability of them being dangerous fakes. As was noted in other recent surveys, just over half of respondents consider that the danger from counterfeit drugs purchased online is indisputable, while only 40% feel that it is potential, which demonstrates our false sense of security when it comes to purchasing drugs online.

Falsified drugs kill thousands of unsuspecting people around the world each year. This is why at CSIP we provide trusted links and educational videos specifically for consumers. As always, we urge consumers to check all online pharmacy sites before they buy using our LegitScript Pharmacy Verification Tool, and educate themselves about the dangers of illegitimate online pharmaceuticals and pharmacies.

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The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and our 11 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.