Rising Fake Prescription Pills Drive Surge in US Drug Overdose Deaths
A surge in counterfeit prescription pills, primarily containing fentanyl, has contributed to a record number of drug overdose deaths in the US, according to a study by the CDC. Deaths from fake pills more than doubled nationwide between mid-2019 and the end of 2021, with triple the number of deaths in western states. Over 90% of the counterfeit drugs contained fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Many individuals seeking legitimate prescription drugs unknowingly purchased counterfeit pills to avoid fentanyl, which claims nearly 200 lives a day. The DEA warns that six out of ten counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. The Biden administration has allocated an additional $450m to combat the opioid epidemic, including funding for awareness campaigns and recovery programs.