![]() Read more: Tainted pills from Mexican pharmacies kept killing Americans even after U.S. If a store is even willing to sell them over the counter at all, that’s a red flag that they might not be authentic. In theory, oxycodone and amphetamines are much more tightly controlled. drugs such as Viagra, Xanax and tramadol. Mexico has long been a mecca for Americans seeking easier and cheaper access to medications that require a prescription in the U.S. But in between its bars and boutiques are dozens of drugstores, many willing to sell powerful medications over the counter. It's better-known as a resort town for gay men than a hot spot for medical tourism. The city of nearly a quarter of a million people is on the Pacific Coast, roughly halfway between Mexico’s northern and southern borders.Ī nighttime scene of a city nestled among small hills. On a late spring day in Puerto Vallarta, tourists carrying Starbucks cups and cans of Michelob Ultra strolled along the bougainvillea-lined avenues of the bustling Zona Romantica. We are continuing our enforcement and education efforts on this important issue to save lives.” "In 2022, the DEA seized over 58 million pills containing fentanyl in the United States. “One of the greatest threats to the safety and health of Americans today are fake prescription pills sold as legitimate medication when in fact they are not - they are fentanyl," Milgram's statement said. Later, she offered comment through a spokeswoman via email, without addressing the specific questions posed. When asked whether she was aware of reporting about Mexican pharmacies selling fentanyl- and methamphetamine-tainted pills, she left without responding. Last month, after speaking for half an hour at a business conference in Beverly Hills, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram refused to answer questions from Times reporters. Drug Enforcement Administration has known about the problem since at least 2019. Mexican government officials have ignored repeated requests for comment, except for one federal prosecutor who said this month that her office would comment only if reporters revealed the names and locations of the pharmacies they visited. Some drugstore workers warned about the risk of laced pills and “homemade Adderall,” but none offered any explanation when they were contacted later.Ī pharmacy catering to tourists sits feet from the historic Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta. ![]() It’s often not clear whether pharmacy clerks and owners know they are selling deadly counterfeits. Now, given the new testing that shows how common tainted pills are in stores throughout the country, some drug-market experts worry the problem could have a far broader reach, to include tourists from outside of the Americas. issues warning about Mexican pharmacies selling tainted, counterfeit pills But because authorities in Mexico do not routinely do detailed toxicology testing, it’s impossible to know how many more people have been adversely affected. Times reporting confirmed that at least half a dozen Americans have overdosed or died after taking counterfeit pills purchased from pharmacies. It is unclear how high the death toll might actually be. “This is just terrible - it shows an utter lack of control in pharmacies,” said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has studied drug cartels. ![]()
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