Study: Counterfeit Pills in Mexican Pharmacies

We used the FTIR and test strips to conduct a mixed methods study of counterfeit pills sold at retail pharmacies in tourist-oriented areas of Northern Mexico. The paper is currently in revision at an academic journal, but you can read the pre-print here.

The Los Angeles Times did a similar investigation and independently found counterfeit pills sold at pharmacies. See coverage and follow-up, including a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department below.

Some pharmacies in Mexico passing off fentanyl, meth as legitimate pharmaceuticalsPharmacies in several Mexican cities are selling counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and meth and passing them off as legitimate pharmaceuticals.

Feds knew for years fentanyl-tainted pills from Mexican pharmacies were killing AmericansU.S. authorities have known for years that Americans have died after consuming counterfeit pills containing fentanyl purchased from pharmacies in Mexico.

U.S. issues warning about Mexican pharmacies selling tainted, counterfeit pillsAn alert by the U.S. State Department urges American travelers to "exercise caution" when purchasing drugs from pharmacies in Mexico.

Fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine-based counterfeit pills sold at tourist-oriented pharmacies in Mexico: An ethnographic and drug checking studyFentanyl- and methamphetamine-based counterfeit prescription drugs have driven escalating overdose death rates in the US, however their presence in Me…