Drugstore.com To Launch Campaign To Educate Consumers About Online Pharmacies

Officials at Drugstore.com, the largest online pharmacy in the United States, on Thursday announced plans to launch a new public education campaign, called "Safe Shopper," to warn consumers about "rogue" Web sites that "specialize in selling painkillers and other dangerous drugs" and help them to identify legitimate online pharmacies, the Washington Post reports. Drugstore.com officials said that such Web sites "pose a serious threat to the public health and safety" because they often sell diluted, contaminated or counterfeit medications and are operated by illegal, offshore companies. In addition, they said that such Web sites often do not require a prescription from a physician and hire physicians who write thousands of prescriptions based on brief telephone consultations. The Safe Shopper campaign will recommend that consumers avoid Web sites that do not list their addresses, require customers to visit their local physicians to obtain a prescription or include a full line of prescription drugs. In addition, the campaign will recommend that consumers use Web sites that include the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy seal of certification and avoid sites that send unsolicited e-mail advertisements. Drugstore.com officials said they will work with the NABP to help "close the door on illegal online pharmacies" (Gaul/Flaherty, Washington Post, 10/24).