Chemists Clamp Down On Fake Drugs

A survey by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has indicated that over 2 million Brits are regularly putting their health at risk by buying prescription drugs on the Internet.

One of the most popular drugs bought online is Viagra, which generally costs around £50 for four tablets. However, fake tablets are available for as little as £2 each and doctors are worried that the low cost of this drug is causing it to gain popularity with clubbers. Valium is also a popular drug that can be purchased online, costing around £50 for 30 tablets. Increasing amounts of young people are using Valium to get them to sleep after taking cocaine or amphetamines. Valium abuse is getting so severe that a source at the Priory Hospital in London estimates that around one in 10 of its patients are addicted to the pill.

Although the Internet gives people the freedom to buy drugs without a prescription, the survey shows that those purchasing pills online should be aware that up to 50% of all drugs on the Internet are counterfeit. While fake drugs can be harmless, some are dangerous as they contain a smaller amount of the active ingredient needed by the patient.

David Pruce, director of practice and quality improvement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, believes that buying drugs online can be a dangerous practice. He said: “The internet presents a real danger to people's health. Dishonest traders are selling medicines online without any professional qualifications or health care expertise. The products they sell can be poor quality at best and dangerous at worst."

There are a number of legitimate pharmacies on the Internet, although some websites are run by people with no health care experience. In a bid to regulate the UK online pharmacy trade, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is launching a new Internet pharmacy logo, which will help buyers to judge whether a site is legitimate.

Source:

Guardian

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