CDC Issues Warning on ‘Counterfeit’ Drugs Flooding the US

The Epoch Times Header

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday that the number of people who have overdosed and died from fake prescription pills is on the rise, namely among younger Americans.

The majority of individuals who died from overdosing on fake prescription medication were under the age of 35, according to the report.  It noted that the fake drugs didn’t come from a pharmacy but were instead bought on the street, from friends, or in school.

“Evidence of counterfeit pill use in overdose deaths more than doubled from July–September 2019 to October–December 2021, and tripled in western U.S. states,” the agency said. “Decedents with evidence of counterfeit pill use, compared with those without such evidence, were younger, more often Hispanic or Latino, and more frequently had a history of prescription drug misuse and drug use by smoking.”

Counterfeit drugs often contain illegally manufactured fentanyl, which causes tens of thousands of overdose deaths per year in the United States, as well as illicitly made benzodiazepines, or “other illicit drugs,” which “might expose persons to drugs they did not intend to use,” the agency said.

In total, it found there were more than 54,000 overdose deaths along with evidence of counterfeit drugs, which are made to look like real pharmaceutical pills. It further found that half of the deaths were connected to counterfeit oxycodone, a synthetic opioid that triggered a drug epidemic starting in the early 2000s, and counterfeit alprazolam, commonly sold under the name Xanax.

“Effective overdose prevention messaging would stress that persons should only use legitimate pharmaceutical pills that are prescribed to them, and emphasize that pills obtained illicitly or without a prescription might contain highly potent drugs,” the CDC said.

Drug overdose deaths in the United States hit historic highs in recent years. About 107,000 people died due to drug overdoses in 2021, while the CDC’s preliminary estimates found that about 105,000 died of overdoses in 2022.

“People are pressing pills and even gummies” to make them look like legitimate medications, said Tonja Myles, an addiction expert with Huntsman Mental Health Foundation in Salt Lake City, in an NBC News report.

By Jack Phillips

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

A Simple Question

What is a woman? Anyone with an IQ above room temperature can answer the question. Everyone, that is, except Democrats.

Democrats Tesla Takedown is a Proven Astro Turf Movement

Elon Musk and other journalistic leaders like Joe Rogan have been asking the critical question, “Who is behind the organization of these Tesla protests?”

Can Ramaphosa and Trump Come to Terms?

Whether South Africa can quell the hostility emanating from Washington, without compromising on its national priorities, is a formidable test for a country

Maddened Europe

Viable prospects for peaceful settlement of conflict between Moscow and Kyiv exist, but Europe obsesses over threat of incursion onto European territory.

BOMBSHELL: DOGE Proves Democrats Guilty of Election Fraud!

As the old expression goes, “That didn’t take long!” Over...

News

Crawford Defeats Musk-Backed Rival to Preserve Liberal Majority on Wisconsin Supreme Court

Judge Susan Crawford, backed by in-state Democrats and supported by millions in out-of-state donations, won most expensive Supreme Court seat in state history.

Victory! Federal Court Orders Parental Notice Laws Restored to Protect Minors Seeking Abortion, in a case almost 40 years in the making.

Teaming up with public officials, the Bopp Law Firm and Nevada Right to Life, PJI took a stand in federal court to restore protections for young girls, the preborn and parents.

Trump Says Agency Heads Will Work With DOGE After Elon Musk Leaves

President Donald Trump said adviser Elon Musk will eventually have to depart from the DOGE and go back to running his companies.

FTC Chairman Raises Concerns Over Sale of 23andMe DNA Data

FTC said it was worried about the safety of the personal data of Americans who were previously customers of genetic testing company 23andMe.

Judge Dismisses COVID Lawsuit Against Former New York Gov. Cuomo

Judge dismissed class-action lawsuit against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo that blamed his admin for COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes across NY.

Tesla Firebombing Suspect Hit With Federal Charges

The U.S. Dept of Justice has filed federal charges against a suspect in connection with a firebombing attack on a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado.

What to Expect From Trump’s Global Tariffs

Trump has dubbed April 2 “Liberation Day,” when he will unveil reciprocal tariffs to level the trading field between the United States and its 200 partners.

Voters Head to Polls in 3 Key Elections in Florida, Wisconsin: What to Watch For

On April 1, voters head to the polls for three races in Florida and Wisconsin, with substantial implications for the future beyond the current contests.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central