The illegal purchase of prescription drugs online has been a hot topic of late. But media outlets and the public should be careful not to blame legitimate Internet pharmacies for the problem.
San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) May 27, 2008 -- Cary Byrd, founder and president of eDrugSearch.com, the popular prescription drug shopping site and social network, today released the following statement addressing recent media coverage of the dangers of Internet pharmacies:
Just as there have been past hysterias blaming the Internet for sexual predators, pornography, political polarization, celebrity obsession and seemingly every other malady facing our nation, it now seems the news media has targeted online pharmacies as the Internet Danger of the Moment. The most recent example I came across was a story on CNN.com, headlined, "Widow: My husband died from online drugs."
Actually, the husband in this CNN story died after taking drugs without a prescription -- drugs that he apparently knew he shouldn't have been taking. Sadly, because he was addicted to painkillers, he engaged in criminal activity -- and found rogue pharmacies to enable this activity. As it happened, he bought these drugs via the Internet, rather than from a friend, a co-worker, or a stranger on a street corner.
The problem of individuals -- especially teenagers -- illegally purchasing prescription drugs online has gotten a lot of attention in recent months. But you can't blame the Internet for these illegal activities, any more than you can blame the highway for DUIs. And you can't lump legitimate, licensed pharmacies in with the rogue operations, either.
We would be better served to focus our media attention -- and law enforcement efforts -- on stopping the criminals, rather than tarring all Internet pharmacies with the same broad brush. Unfortunately, what it means to be a "criminal" in the world of Internet pharmacies has been a source of confusion, both for the media and the public.
When we take a step back, it's easy to see why people are confused. Currently, there are two separate public policy issues surrounding Internet pharmacies:
1. The Problem of Rogue Pharmacies.
Unquestionably, too many rogue pharmacies are out there operating with impunity. This is evident from the e-mail inboxes of millions of Americans, whose spam folders are replete with solicitations to buy Viagra and Xanax. Chasing these illegal operations down has been a very tough task for the FDA. It's like policing anything over the Internet -- difficult.
2. The Politics Surrounding Canadian Drug Reimportation.
Consumer reimportation of medications from Canada is heavily favored by the U.S. public. Presidential candidates John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all support it. They know, as the public knows, that a licensed Canadian pharmacy is just as safe as a licensed U.S. pharmacy.
Because of the enormous influence of Big Pharma, however, the Bush Administration and the FDA have done all they can to block reimportation.
Fortunately, the FDA gave up on the idea of confiscating consumer purchases. But what they have done instead is confuse consumers -- by telling the public that ordering your Lipitor from a licensed Canadian pharmacy is illegal and somehow not as safe as buying it from a licensed U.S. pharmacy.
In its rhetoric, the FDA associates licensed, long-established, perfectly safe Canadian pharmacies with the rogue operations that engage in criminal activities. I believe, as do many others, that this is an intentional deception to appease Big Pharma. Whatever the motive, it's factually inaccurate.
It has also led the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to list legitimate pharmacies alongside bad ones in its recently publicized list of 79 online pharmacies to avoid, announced in a press release last week. The legitimate pharmacies are on the list simply because they are headquartered in Canada.
How sad that is, and what a mess for consumers.
eDrugSearch.com has stepped into the fray to clear up the confusion and offer a safe haven for consumers shopping for prescription drugs online. We suggest you use our list of approved pharmacies, rather than the NABP's, in choosing an online pharmacy.
The pharmacies on our list have been through a 10-step approval process. They are licensed in their home countries and have been accredited by third-party sources. We prescreen them for safety, so you can focus on saving money -- which is the reason millions of Americans are shopping online in the first place.
Buying prescription drugs online is a good thing. It's convenient. It's private. And it's less expensive, because it gives consumers the necessary tools to comparison shop, both domestically and internationally.
So for those of you who have been frightened by recent media coverage, let me assure you of this: As long as you're shopping from pharmacies that you know are safe, and you're not a criminal yourself, you'll be fine online.
Consumers can register for a free membership with eDrugSearch.com at the following url: http://www.edrugsearch.com/register.
About eDrugSearch.com
Based in San Antonio, eDrugSearch.com is the Health 2.0 social network and comparison shopping site for U.S. consumers seeking prescription medications from prescreened Canadian and other international pharmacies. eDrugSearch.com's social network empowers members to rate and review pharmacies, share experiences with other members, and more. eDrugSearch.com president and founder Cary Byrd is an impassioned advocate for reform of U.S. prescription-drug law. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.eDrugSearch.com or its blog at www.edrugsearch.com/edsblog.
Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law
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