Counterfeit Pills
Also known as fake pills or fentanyl pills, counterfeit drugs, are made to look exactly the same as a legitimate pill and can be very difficult to determine the difference between a real or fake pill.
What are they?
-
Many counterfeit (fake) pills are made to look like prescription medications including prescription opioids (such as oxycodone, Percocet®, hydrocodone), prescription benzodiazepines (like Xanax®), or stimulants (like Adderall®) – but contain fentanyl or methamphetamine.
-
Counterfeit pills are more lethal than ever before. DEA lab testing reveals that 7 out of every 10 seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.
-
Counterfeit pills are widely available, and DEA and its law enforcement partners are seizing fake pills at record rates.
-
The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
Common Counterfeit Drugs:
OxyCodone, OxyContin®, Tylox®, Percodan®, Valium®, Xanax®, Restoril®, Ativan®, Klonopin®, Adderall®, Concerta®, Dexedrine®, Focalin®, Metadate®, Methylin®, Ritalin®
Why are Counterfeit Pills on the rise?
Counterfeit pills are on the rise for many reasons, one especially being the amount of money that can be made selling these pills in a world-wide market. It doesn’t matter to the sellers if it’s at the expense of the buyer’s health or life. Many sellers are trying to “cash in” on the opioid epidemic knowing that many people in our country are misusing or dependent on opioid pain relievers.
In addition, the high cost of prescription medications, the rise of online pharmacies, the ease of online sales through social media and delivery of products through the mail are contributing factors. And, there is a sense that the risks of getting caught are low.
What can you do?
1. Talk to loved ones about counterfeit pills and their risks. Avoid scare tactics and stick to the facts.
2. Only take pills that are given to you directly from a pharmacist or parent.
3. If you are experimenting with pills, use fentanyl and xylazine test strips to first test the pill. Learn more information about harm reduction here.
Learn more about Counterfeit Pills
There are several helpful resources online regarding counterfeit/fake pills. The information on this page was drawn from the Partnership to End Addiction and the DEA's One Pill Can Kill Campaign.
Click here for tips on how to talk to your children of all ages about substance use.