Friday, March 02, 2007

Worldwide explosion of fake drugs

A BBC report quotes a United Nations warning that fake prescription medicines are swamping developing nations with sometimes deadly consequences.

The International Narcotics Control Board report says up to 50% of the medicines in these markets are fake and the abuse of prescription drugs is said overtake that of illegal narcotics worldwide soon.

The Vienna-based UN drugs watchdog has said prescription drug abuse had outstripped heroin, cocaine and Ecstasy in some parts of Europe, Africa and South Asia. Only cannabis was more abused than prescription drugs in the US, it said.

This is an alarming trend and urgent action is called for to combat the spread of this low quality or illegal medicines which poses deadly health risks. No effort should be spared to stop these drug runners making money in this lethal trade.

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