Rx Summit 2022 Key Takeaways eBook - 5

DEA Calls Attention to Rising
Counterfeit Pill Threat
With illicit fentanyl fueling a surge in the production of
counterfeit pills that has sent overdose deaths across the
US soaring, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
has launched a public safety campaign to raise awareness.
At the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Atlanta,
Georgia, Jae Chung, deputy chief of
operations, DEA, discussed " One Pill
Can Kill, " the DEA's first public safety alert
in six years.
" There has been a significant uptick [in the
production of counterfeit pills], especially
oxycodone, " Chung said, adding that
Adderall and Xanax are also popular
medications for counterfeiting. " We
seized enough powder fentanyl last year
to kill every American. That's not including
the 20.4 million counterfeit pills we've
seized as well. We are seeing more and
more of these. "
In 2020, four of 10 counterfeit pills seized
by the DEA contained lethal doses of
fentanyl. Production of counterfeit
medications can be surprisingly easy, with
pill presses sold online by popular retailers.
Counterfeit medications can look almost
identical to their legitimate counterparts,
and in some cases even appear to be
more cleanly produced, Chung said.
No matter their appearance, though, the
contents of counterfeit pills produced
by transnational criminal organizations
can vary wildly, laced with inconsistent
amounts of fentanyl.
Chung shared strategies from the
DEA's " One Pill Can Kill " campaign
for addressing the threat of counterfeit
medications. Specifically, Chung
advised attendees to stay vigilant on
social media and encourage others to
monitor children's use of the platforms.
Counterfeit medications are frequently
sold on social media and e-commerce
sites, available to anyone with internet
access. Watch for suspicious social media
messages and cash app posts, he said.
Certain emojis often are used as codes for
popular drugs.
Also, Chung stressed that individuals
should never take medicine that wasn't
prescribed to the individual by his/her
own physician.
" You are playing Russian roulette when
it comes to this situation, " Chung said of
taking medications from other sources.
Finally, Chung encouraged attendees to
safely dispose of unwanted medications at
National Drug Takeback Days, explaining
that research has shown that three of
four children who become addicted
to prescription drugs start by using
medications they find at home.
While counterfeit pills are an escalating
problem on the dark web, Chung said the
DEA to date has not seen any issues with
counterfeit pills surfacing at traditional
retail pharmacies because of distribution
safeguard protocols in place.
> For more information about the
" One Pill Can Kill " campaign,
visit dea.gov/onepill.
reference Chung J. Counterfeit pills: What
every American should know. Presented at:
Rx and Illicit Drug Summit; April 18-21, 2022;
Atlanta, Georgia.
key takeaways from rx summit 2022
rx-summit.com 5
http://www.dea.gov/onepill http://www.rx-summit.com
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