NABP Report Highlights Progress in Protecting Public Health from Rogue Internet Drug Outlets

January 27, 2011 12:25 PM Topics: Buying medicine online and Internet pharmacy

The list of Internet drug outlets ranked as Not Recommended by NABP grew 37% to 7,134 over the course of 2010, as reported in the Association’s January 2011 progress report for regulators. These Web sites, 96% of the total number of sites reviewed by NABP, were found to be out of compliance with pharmacy laws and practice standards established in the United States to protect the public health. In addition to stressing the dangers of rogue Internet drug outlets, such as their role in the counterfeit drug market and the growth of prescription drug abuse, the report highlights the significant progress stakeholders made in 2010 to protect the public from these illicit sellers, including voluntary actions by Internet commerce providers, legislative efforts, enforcement actions, and public awareness campaigns.

NABP issues these status reports every other month to provide the boards of pharmacy, other regulatory agencies, and interested stakeholders with updates of Web site review findings and other events and trends related to Internet pharmacy practice. Through communication and cooperation, NABP hopes to advance the efforts of those entities seeking to curtail the online trade of illicit and counterfeit medications. The NABP “Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: January 2011” (PDF) is available for download. Future progress reports will be posted bi-monthly.