Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: October 2014

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) released its “Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: October 2014.” The report, released during National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, spans the months of April 2014 through September 2014. Looking at 10,866 Internet drug outlets selling prescription medications, the NABP found that of the 10,866, an overwhelming “10,473 (96.3%) were found to be operating out of compliance with state and federal laws and/or NABP patient safety and pharmacy practice standards.”

NABP highlights the frequency of prescription drug abuse, especially among teens, finding, “websites selling controlled substances illegally, without medical oversight, continue to feed the problem.” The scope of the Internet is immense, and rogue online pharmacies will persist, becoming exponentially more confusing as new Top-Level Domains continue to grow in number. According to NABP, education is key to combating rogue online pharmacies, and prescription drug abuse. It is “critical to dispel the notion that prescription medications used recreationally are somehow safer than illicit drugs.” NABP is taking steps to educate through a public campaign, as well as the launch of .pharmacy TLD, which will “provide clarity about prescription drug use, particularly relating to online sources.”