DEA warns of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- The DEA issued a public safety alert on Monday, alerting the public of a sharp increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth.
The pills are coming from criminal drug networks that are falsely marketing them as legitimate while mass producing them.
“These counterfeit pills are easy to purchase, widely available, and often contain deadly doses of fentanyl. Pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous, and potentially lethal,” the alert read.
Over 9.5 million of these fake pills have been seized so far this year, the DEA said.
The fake pills are most commonly made to look like oxycontin, percocet, vicodin, xanax, and adderall.
More than 93,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses last year, according to the DEA.
The alert does not apply to any legitimate pharmaceutical medications prescribed by medical professionals and dispensed by pharmacists.
