News
Fake HIV Medication Reached U.S. Pharmacies—And Patients
A new story in the Wall Street Journal revealed details about the mysterious criminal counterfeiting ring that has been selling fake versions of HIV medications Biktarvy, Symtuza, and Descovy to licensed pharmacies. Read to learn some key things about the crime.
[...]January 10, 2022: Buyers, beware COVID test scams and counterfeits
Amidst a shortage of COVID-19 tests that has encouraged fraud and counterfeits, the FTC published guidance about how to avoid purchasing fake home test kits online. Catch up on this and counterfeit drug stories across eight states.
[...]January 4, 2022: Fentanyl deaths rise; 13% in western states are from fake pills
Recent analysis at the CDC found that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for U.S. adults ages 18-45, and fake pills are playing a prominent role: in western states, more than 13% of fentanyl deaths involved counterfeit pills. Catch up on all the news here.
[...]December 13, 2021: Legislators continue to seek permanent scheduling of fentanyl and its analogues
Senators Cassidy and Burr and Representatives Latta and Griffith introduced new legislation to permanently classify fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances. Temporary scheduling is currently set to expire in February 2022. Catch up on this and 24 more stories in this post.
[...]Video: Fake Cough Syrup Ring in Texas
Is there money in counterfeit cough syrup? There really is—but you can never tell what’s in fake medicine and sometimes it will kill you. Watch this week’s video to learn about a recently busted cough syrup ring in Texas.
[...]Parents & PSM to the Sacramento Bee: Please call these deaths poisonings
The Sacramento Bee has been steadily covering counterfeit pills made with fentanyl since 2016, but it has also used the word “overdose” to describe fake pill deaths. PSM and a group of parents asked the paper to change their language so that the public better understands the threat.
[...]Video Series – Operation Denial: OCDETF shuts down a three-country fentanyl trafficking conspiracy
A teenager dying in North Dakota bought down a fentanyl conspiracy ring that spanned three nations and two continents.
Watch part 5 to learn about the task force that made this investigation possible.
[...]December 6, 2021: Fake captagon pills are Syria’s biggest export, says the New York Times
Associates of the Assad regime have become international suppliers of counterfeit amphetamine pills.
[...]November 29, 2021: CBP and FDA seize 26,000 unapproved contact lenses
In the past, contact lenses like these have been contaminated with harmful bacteria.
[...]November 22, 2021: 100,000 People Lost To Drugs Between April 2020 And 2021
Drug deaths in the twelve months ending in April 2021 increased 28% over the same period the previous year. The tragic increase is fueled by fentanyl and its analogues being added to the entire spectrum of illicit drugs.
[...]