Illicit weight loss drugs have become prevalent in the U.S. market, with the potential to cause serious harm to consumers’ health. Together, these investigative reports shed light on a troubling and potentially deadly trend. Illegally produced counterfeit products are often sold online by overseas sellers and shipped into the U.S. through major ports of entry. Experts say that in addition to being fraudulent, many of these drugs can be deadly.
As investigative health reporter and special correspondent for Vanity Fair, Katherine Eban has warned us about the dangerous threat of counterfeit medications. She states, “Once a drug leaves its intended route, really all bets are off — you cannot vouch for the quality of that drug.” That’s something sorely needed, given the lack of clarity about just how dangerous these fake products are.
Eric Feinberg, Vice President of Content Moderation with Coalition for A Safer Web, sheds light on an important red flag. He argues for greater accountability and oversight toward e-commerce platforms. He cautions that if a seller’s profile says “No Rx,” that should be a huge warning sign. Often, this means the product is counterfeit. After all, you can’t get a prescription drug without a prescription, he said. He highlighted how important it is to use legitimate channels when seeking medication.
Nicole Johnson, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, underscored the scary reality of counterfeit weight loss drugs. This deeply concerning problem is serious and immediate. Johnson has seen a new wave in counterfeit products. Patients are being driven to dangerous extremes to get these medicines. “Patients are willing to do anything to get their hands on this product, and they’re risking their lives,” she stated.
Eric Zizelman, Port Director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Port of Cincinnati, describes how his team has seized illegal GLP-1 medications based on suspicious packaging, which often includes writing in Spanish. Zizelman goes on to clarify that any real product coming into the U.S. won’t include Spanish. It will be delivered in an all-American language, tuned directly to the American market. It has to be in English. “This language difference is another helpful signal that the product is unlikely to be approved for sale on the U.S. market.
In the short video below, Zizelman breaks down what “gray market drugs” are all about. He explains that unlike normal drugs they’re mostly made to be sold in other countries and then brought here and sold without FDA approval. This worst nightmare element only adds insult to injury, as consumers can unknowingly buy these unauthorized drugs, thinking they are all perfectly authentic.
Their continued fight against these fake weight loss pharma poisons proves to be a bigger case and exposure of what’s really happening behind the scenes. Safety over convenience Experts advise consumers to use extreme caution when buying medications from an online pharmacy and to be aware of the risks involved.
