Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Purchased Online Suspected in Two Deaths
Gardaí issued a warning about the use of counterfeit medication following the accidental death of two men in Tralee, Ireland.
Gardaí in Kerry believe counterfeit tranquilizers purchased over the internet were involved in the deaths of two men, one in his late 20s, and the other in his early 30s, reports The Irish Examiner.
Detective Sergeant Declan Liddane issued a warning about the use of counterfeit prescription drugs, which he said were “flooding the country.”
Gardaí seizures of counterfeit medicines have grown to over 300,000 in the past 12 months. Irish Medicines Board chief Pat O’Mahony said there are no assurances that online purchases of medication are safe or effective.
A record 822,484 medicinal products were detained at the country’s airports and harbors last year — up 66% from the 494,502 items seized in 2009.
The two men who died were drug addicts in supervised treatment for heroin addiction. Gardaí found counterfeit Xanax on the body of the younger of the two men, who was found dead in his home on June 13th.
Three days later, his friend, the other victim, died of what is believed to be cardiac arrested. Gardaí examiners suspect the death was caused by fake tablets of prescription sedatives that may have had inaccurate quantities of active ingredients.
Toxicology testing is still outstanding in both cases.