Rise in Counterfeit Drugs Prompts Pharmacy Students’ Public Health Project
In light of the rise in counterfeit drugs, two North Dakota State University students have chosen to take an active role in educating other health care providers, as well as the public. Third year pharmacy students Nick O’Rourke and Tegan Buckley recently presented an informational poster to illuminate this problem.
In light of the rise in counterfeit drugs, two North Dakota State University students have chosen to take an active role in educating other health care providers, as well as the public. Third year pharmacy students Nick O’Rourke and Tegan Buckley recently presented an informational poster to illuminate this problem. The poster was presented at a continuing education event in February and will be presented again at the North Dakota Pharmacists Association Annual Convention later this April.
The poster focuses on three areas: educating people about the existence of counterfeit drugs, actions being taken to overcome this problem, and the necessary steps to report counterfeit drugs to the FDA. “Right now the big thing is awareness,”O’Rourke says. “Although some counterfeits have infiltrated the US drug supply, the overall extent is very small. Most counterfeit drugs enter Americans’ homes via the internet.” The poster emphasizes the importance of using VIPPS accredited sites when purchasing drugs online.