Rising Overdose Deaths Linked to Counterfeit Pills, CDC Study Reveals

Counterfeit pills are increasingly contributing to overdose deaths in the United States, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report reveals that overdose deaths involving evidence of counterfeit pill use more than doubled between the second half of 2019 and the end of 2021. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl was found to be involved in nearly all overdose deaths related to counterfeit pills, with methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzodiazepines also detected in some cases. The majority of counterfeit pills were made to resemble oxycodone, and the DEA has stated that most of these pills are produced in Mexico. Overdose deaths involving counterfeit pills were most common in Western states and disproportionately affected Hispanic individuals and those under the age of 35. Experts recommend using only prescribed pharmaceutical pills obtained from legitimate sources and utilizing harm reduction measures such as fentanyl test strips and naloxone.