An increase of fake prescription pills has been discovered that fentanyl and methamphetamine have been laced to many of the fake prescription pills. 

Numbers of COVID 19 numbers weren’t the only numbers that had increased in the year 2020. Last year, drug overdose deaths hit the highest number ever recorded. For instance, according to the DEA, 9.5 million people have been seized this year. In addition that’s more than the past two years combined.

Lab Tests

According to the DEA lab tests, they have revealed a rise in pills that contain two milligrams of the drug.  That is the same as a lethal dose. Four out of ten counterfeit pills are deadly according to the DEA administrator Anne Milgram. “The United States is facing an unprecedented crisis of overdose deaths fueled by illegally manufactured fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said Anne Milgram. 

In other words, the tip of a pencil is about the same size as a deadly dose of fentanyl. Criminal drug networks are the ones that manufacture these counterfeit pills. Therefore they look like drugs such as Oxycontin, Percocet, Xanax, and Adderall. 

It has been reported by the DEA that the majority of counterfeit pills brought to the US are produced in Mexico. While China is the country supplying the chemicals for manufacturing fentanyl in Mexico.

Anne Milgram has gone on and stated, “Counterfeit pills that contain these dangerous and extremely addictive drugs are more lethal and more accessible than ever before.” 

The DEA is doing everything they can to take down the drug traffickers. While these traffickers are causing harm and posing the threat of the safety and health of Americans. Their mission is to protect communities, enforce drug laws, and bring justice to criminals sourcing. They want to stop those who are producing, and distributing illicit drugs, including counterfeit pills.    

One Pill Can Kill

Above all DEA has launched One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the dangers of counterfeit pills to the Public. The DEA urges all Americans to be alert and only take medications only prescribed by a real doctor. 

For more information on One Pill Can Kill, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.