U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) on Monday urged his constituents to heed a nationwide public safety alert warning about a sharp increase in counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“We have an epidemic on our hands,” Rep. Carter said. “If we’re going to combat this, we’ve all got to come together to make sure everyone understands the danger we face.”
The Sept. 27 alert issued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warns Americans about an “alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills” that contain fentanyl and meth.
“International and domestic criminal drug networks are mass-producing fake pills, falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills, and killing unsuspecting Americans,” according to the DEA’s alert. “These counterfeit pills have been seized by DEA in every U.S. state, and in unprecedented quantities. Pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous, and potentially lethal.”
“These deadly fake pills are increasingly easy to purchase and widely available online,” said Rep. Carter. “They’re showing up in the hands of children and are often kept secret from loved ones until it’s too late.”
The public safety alert does not apply to legitimate pharmaceutical medications prescribed by medical professionals and dispensed by licensed pharmacists, the DEA said, noting that 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, such as Adderall.
The DEA and its law enforcement partners are seizing deadly fake pills at record rates, the agency added, with more than 9.5 million counterfeit pills seized so far this year, which is more than the last two years combined.