Scary Stuff

A sobering new report from the United Nations, "Counterfeiting: a global spread, a global threat," was released last Friday. It details the growing enterprise of counterfeiting and its allure to organized criminals.

Why? "Counterfeiting has become fertile ground for organized crime because the syndicates realize they can make great profit at little risk," said Sandro Calvani, the director of the U.N. Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), which wrote the report.

The extensive report addresses all varieties of counterfeiting, with counterfeit medicines, "products which may cause serious damage to the health and safety of consumers," as a prominent part. (To read the report and an executive summary, go to http://www.unicri.it/wwd/emerging_crimes/counterfeiting.php)

Of particular interest is the section on "The Scale of the Problem."

In this section¸ the report looks at the attraction and impact of counterfeit drugs in highly developed versus developing countries, and the strategies adopted by counterfeiters. In developed countries, the report notes, counterfeiters focus on drugs with the highest market share and profitability; whereas in developing countries, they focus on the constant demand for drugs that combat epidemics and serious diseases, such as malaria and HIV.

Seemingly out of a horror film plot - though sadly not - the report also raises a very scary point about the large presence of counterfeit drugs in developing countries (as high as 10-30% in Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America according to the WHO). According to the report, the long-term effects of patients unknowingly taking counterfeit medicines to combat serious diseases could actually "promote the development of new strains of viruses, parasites and bacteria ... for example in the case of malaria or HIV."

The UNICRI report calls for an improved global response to counterfeiting that goes beyond just punishing offenders on the basis of economic damages or a violation of public faith (the approach for prosecuting counterfeiting items such as luxury goods). It outlines a series of proposals based on the need to punish counterfeiters that takes into account the problem's complex nature and the severity of the offenses possible.

I hope our and other governments will take this report seriously and work together to combat this growing problem. If not, we can be certain that organized crime will continue counterfeiting, counterfeit drugs will make their way into legitimate supply chains and our health will be further jeopardized.

We must work together globally to address this scourge; otherwise we fate our children and their children to deal with a problem that will only grow worse and more difficult to solve.

As always, our job today is to stay vigilant and protect ourselves and our families. Remember, we are the last barrier to harm!

• SAFE DRUG (click here)checklist to learn how to avoid, deter, and report suspected counterfeit drugs.
  
• SAFEMEDS EMAIL ALERT SYSTEM (click here), which broadcasts FDA Counterfeit Alert Network notices as soon as they come out.
  
• Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (click here), that are accredited by The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's (NABP) as legitimate pharmacies.