Phony pharmaceuticals finding their way into more medicine cabinets: report

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s no secret you can buy fake pharmaceuticals on the street and through shady online pharmacies, but a new study suggests counterfeits are a growing problem in Canada and have, in rare cases, even shown up in regular, brick and mortar pharmacies.

“It’s a problem that occurs with all medicines and across all levels of the supply chain,” says lead author Dr. Kristina Acri, an associate professor of economics at Colorado College and a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute.

“Obviously, Canada has a very safe supply chain so if consumers are purchasing their drugs in brick and mortar pharmacies, they are very safe. The problem mainly occurs when you move outside the legitimate supply chain. While there have been a few incidences in which brick and mortar pharmacies have been found to have counterfeit drugs, most are going to be found in online pharmacies or through illicit trade. Those are the primary sources.”

The study estimates that the counterfeit pharmaceutical trade could be worth up to $89 million a year in Canada alone. Globally, it’s valued at approximately $200 billion annually.

Acri suggests fakes can often find their way into medicine cabinets without users even realizing it.

“Counterfeit medicines are disguised to appear to be the legitimate thing so consumers believe they are getting real medicine,” she tells NEWS 1130.

“The risks vary. It may be that you get a counterfeit drug that just has slightly less than the recommended amount of the active ingredient and there’s no impact whatsoever. It may be that you get a medicine that is completely inert and you have treatment failure. In a worst case scenario, you’ll get a drug that contains toxic ingredients or a disproportionate amount of the active ingredient, things that can be harmful and may lead to additional illnesses, serious debilitation of even death in some cases.”

Acri says any kind of drug can be counterfeited, from brand name pharmaceuticals, to generics to over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies.

“The things we see most frequently counterfeited are drugs that are highly profitable, drugs that are in short supply, as well as drugs that people are perhaps ashamed to seek medical attention for — diet drugs, erectile dysfunction drugs, steroids, and opioids and painkillers that people may be addicted to.”

No matter what venue you buy prescription drugs from, Acri says if you find they do not not respond as expected, pay attention.

“If it looks a little different, it tastes a little different, the texture is strange, it falls apart, it has a funny odour, then there is a reason to worry. Consumers should definitely have an awareness that the problem is out there and that they need to be alert to the risks.”

The Fraser Institute is calling for more regulatory oversight for the pharmaceutical sector.

“Health Canada does not regulate the drugs that are trans-shipped — or pass through — Canada. That’s something that’s worrying, when drugs end up being labelled as Canadian and haven’t been given the oversight they need,” says Acri.

“And we need to increase criminal sanctions, ensuring that there are penalties. If you are peddling pills that result in people’s deaths, there should be a serious consequence for that.”

The study also suggests Canada should pursue international treaties with other countries targeting the counterfeit trade.