Illegal Drug Sales on the Rise in US

Jeff Rasansky

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 520

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The abuse of pharmaceuticals has become one of the biggest problems the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has had to deal with. In 2007, over $37 million in cash and property were seized as the result of investigations. In 2004, that number was $11.9 million. Recently, the DEA has formed an initiative with Google, Yahoo and AOL to warn the public about online drug purchases.

A recent investigation by CNN demonstrated how easy it is to buy prescription drugs online without a prescription or a physician. A CNN investigative reporter visited a website and within 24 hours two bottles of the antidepressant drugs Prozac and Elavil arrived at his doorstep. Both bottles had the name of a doctor and a pharmacy on the labels. The reporter never spoke with a doctor.

It is illegal for doctors to prescribe medication to patients whom they do not know across state lines and it is illegal in most states for pharmacies to ship prescriptions to places that they do not have a license to operate. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has tried to get Congress to tighten down on these illegal Internet pharmacies, but as of yet there has been little accomplished toward this initiative.