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PAGE 3 October 2024
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has seen an increase in illegal online pharmacies selling and shipping counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting customers in the United States who believe they are purchasing real pharmaceutical drugs such as Oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax, and other drugs from legitimate pharmacies. As Americans increasingly turn to online pharmacies to purchase necessary medications [1], DEA is issuing this Public Safety Alert to warn of an increase in illegal online, often foreign-based websites that are deceptively targeting American consumers. DEA has identified websites being operated in India and the Dominican Republic. Many of these sites purport to be legitimate, U.S. based or FDA approved sites, but are actually working with drug traffickers to fulfill online orders with fake pills. These website operators are going to great lengths to make the websites look like legitimate online pharmacies – they offer 24-hour customer service, post online reviews and safety facts, and offer deep discounts to deceive customers into believing they were buying from a reputable business. Often these illegal, online websites use U.S. website addresses and professional- looking designs to appear legitimate when, in fact, they are not. These companies operate illegally, deliberately deceiving American customers into believing they are purchasing safe, regulated medications when they are actually selling fake, counterfeit pills made with fentanyl or methamphetamine. Fake medications can lead to serious health risks, including harmful side effects, ineffective treatment, and even death. During Operation Press Your Luck, announced on Monday, September 30, 2024, DEA discovered that a U.S. based victim had ordered what she believed to be oxycodone from an online pharmacy, only to receive a fake pill made with fentanyl. The pill looked identical to a real oxycodone, but it was not - it was made with fentanyl and filler. Days after receiving the medication, the victim passed away from acute fentanyl poisoning as a result of taking one of the pills sent to her. The DEA has identified the following fake pharmacies in a recent criminal investigation: • www.Curecog.com • www.Pharmacystoresonline.com • www.Careonlinestore.com • www.yourphamacy.online • www.MD724.com • www.Greenleafdispensarystore.com • www.Whatishydrocodone.weebly.com • www.Orderpainkillersonline.com • www.USAMedstores.com If you have purchased alleged medication from any of these websites, you should immediately stop using it and contact your local DEA office or report the incident here. The only safe prescription medications are those prescribed by a licensed medical provider and dispensed by a trusted pharmacy. Patients should remain vigilant when purchasing medications online. DEA remains committed to the safety and health of the American people, which is why we are urging consumers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing medications online. While it can be difficult to identify an illegal online pharmacy, the following are possible red flags that a website is not a legitimate: • Sells prescription drugs without requiring a valid prescription from a healthcare provider • Offers much cheaper prices than what is typically seen in the market • Lists prices in a foreign currency • Does not contain proof of a valid pharmacy state license or DEA registration • Medicine arrives in broken or damaged packaging or in a foreign language • Medicine does not have an expiration date or is expired • Medicine looks different from what you have received in the past from your trusted pharmacist For more information on how to keep you and your loved ones safe from illegal and fake pills, visit DEA’s One Pill Can Kill resource page. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s BeSafeRx campaign page for information on how to safely buy prescription medicines online and to locate a state-licensed online pharmacy. You can also contact your state board of pharmacy to verify a pharmacy’s license. DEA is committed to working jointly with the medical community to ensure legitimate controlled substances are not being diverted for illegal use. Learn more about DEA’s Diversion Control Division here DEA Warns About Increase in Illegal Online Pharmacies and Counterfeit Pills
DO YOU NEED A NEW ROOF? Do you have wind damage, hail damage, or just an ugly roof? Call Donna Richards She makes roofing easy as pie! According to the American Cancer Society, women who have regular mammograms are more likely to have breast cancer found earlier, are less likely to need aggressive treatments like surgery to remove the entire breast (mastectomy) and chemotherapy, and are more likely to be cured. The American College of Radiology now recommends women who are at average risk for breast cancer get screening mammograms annually starting at age 40 for women of average risk. The recommendations are in response to the increase in breast cancer diagnoses in younger women and high mortality rates in Black women. In Alabama, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, at more than double the rate of lung cancer, the next most common cancer. Across the U.S., 272,454 new female breast cancer cases were reported in 2021, the most recent year data is available. Women with strong family histories of breast cancer, African Americans and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent should have a risk assessment at age 25 to see if a screening mammogram is needed before they are 40. Women who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer are recommended to be screened with magnetic resonance imaging, an MRI. “The best chance for survival of any cancer is early diagnosis and treatment,” said Kevin Lee, MD, Radiation Oncologist at Gadsden Regional Medical Center. “Mammograms can detect cancer before any symptoms, such as a lump, or spreading of the disease occurs, which can increase the likelihood of recovery.” While mortality from breast cancer has declined in recent years, it remains the second most common cancer causing death in women. Lung cancer is the most common. Fortunately, a screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages. Gadsden Regional Medical Center is encouraging women to schedule their screening now, because when breast cancer is detected early, life-saving treatment can begin right away. Mammograms Recommended For Women Starting at age 40 Members of the Gadsden State Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently participated in the college's "Get On Board Day" Gadsden State has increased its enrollment by 8.14 percent when comparing Fall 2024 semester with Fall 2023. This follows a 7.62 percent increase in overall enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year compared to 2022- 23. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, Gadsden State’s enrollment growth is well above the national average of 2.5 percent for 2023-24. Gadsden State’s Dual Enrollment Program also saw a 39.43 percent increase with 1,478 high school students enrolling in college courses for the current semester. Enrollment Increase Photo Courtesy of Gadsden State
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