Many of the illegal online pharmacies are based in foreign countries and promise that their prices are far less than those of American pharmacies. This is true. As they are wont to promise, these companies can often offer up to 80% discounts on many prescription drugs in comparison to a local pharmacy. This is because online pharmacy overhead costs are much less expensive than the traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacy.

These illegal online pharmacies also promise a discreet and convenient way for the customer/patient to purchase medications. Too discreet, in fact, that it really seems clandestine or underground. One of the most obvious results of online drug selling is for drug abusers and dealers to have access to a never-ending supply of dangerous prescription drugs. It is also a perfect venue for rogue drug companies to supply expired or counterfeit medications that could be hazardous to one’s health, or even fatal.

According to the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of Diversion Control, buying drugs online may be illegal and dangerous. Federal law prohibits buying controlled substances such as narcotic pain relievers (e.g., OxyContin®, Vicodin ®), sedatives (e.g., Valium®, Xanax®, Ambien®), stimulants (e.g., phentermine, phendimetrazine, Adderall®, Ritalin®) and anabolic steroids (e.g., Winstrol®, Equipoise®) without a valid prescription from your doctor.

According to authorities, prescription is the key. It is the documentary proof of a real doctor-patient relationship, which by most state laws requires a physical examination. Prescriptions written by “cyber doctors” relying on online questionnaires are not legitimate under the law.

Authorities assert that buying drugs online may not only be illegal, but also dangerous. The American Medical Association and state boards of medicine and pharmacy have all condemned the practice of cyber doctors issuing online prescriptions as unacceptable medical care. Drugs delivered by rogue websites may be the wrong drugs, adulterated or expired, the wrong dosage strength, or have no dosage directions or warnings.

Buying controlled substances online without a valid prescription may be punishable by imprisonment under Federal law. Drugs that can be ordered online from rogue websites come from foreign countries. Already, this online drug vending and purchasing are illegal. It is a felony to import drugs into the United States and ship to a non-DEA registrant.

Through the campaign called ‘Operation Cyber Chase,’ the DEA targets criminal online pharmacies for prosecution and shuts down these illegal websites.

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Via Grand Connections