Georgia residents are being urged to check online pharmacies before buying medicine. Attorney General Chris Carr issued the warning Thursday, Nov. 12, saying illegal sellers may offer counterfeit, expired, unapproved or improperly stored medications that can pose serious health risks.
Carr’s office cited estimates from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that about 95% of roughly 35,000 online pharmacies worldwide operate illegally. The office said fewer than 4% comply with U.S. laws and pharmacy standards.
The warning identifies several signs that an online pharmacy may not be legitimate: selling prescription drugs without requiring a valid prescription, advertising prices that seem unusually low, lacking a verifiable U.S. address or licensed pharmacist, or not holding the proper license to serve Georgia consumers.
How to check a pharmacy
Consumers can verify a pharmacy’s license with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. Carr’s office also recommends reviewing FDA information about safe online pharmacies and suspicious websites, and using the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s free Safe Site Search tool before making a purchase.
People with questions can consult a licensed pharmacist. Carr’s office advises consumers to contact it if they encounter something suspicious and to be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Carr said in a statement that consumers should buy medicine only from a pharmacy they trust.
Marcus Jones
News Now Georgia
