Page 24 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 DEA | FROM PAGE 23 tor Anne Milgram. “Counterfeit pills that contain these dangerous and extremely addictive drugs are more lethal and more accessible than ever before. In fact, DEA lab analyses reveal that two out of every fi ve fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. DEA is focusing resources on taking down the violent drug traffi ckers causing the greatest harm and posing the greatest threat to the safety and health of Americans. Today, we are alerting the public to this danger so that people have the information they need to protect themselves and their children.” According to the DEA, most counterfeit pills brought into the United States are produced in Mexico, and China is supplying chemicals for the manufacturing of fentanyl in Mexico. The drug overdose crisis in the United States is a serious public safety threat with rates currently reaching the highest level in history. Drug traffi ckers are using fake pills to exploit the opioid crisis and prescription drug misuse in the United States, bringing overdose deaths and violence to American communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 93,000 people died of a drug overdose in the United States last year. Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid most commonly found in counterfeit pills, is the primary driver of this alarming increase in overdose deaths. Drug poisonings involving meth, increasingly found to be pressed into counterfeit pills, also continue to rise as illegal pills containing meth become more widespread. Drug traffi cking is also inextricably linked to violence. This year alone, DEA seized more than 2,700 fi rearms in connection with drug traffi cking investigations – a 30 percent increase since 2019. DEA remains steadfast in its mission to protect our communities, enforce U.S. drug laws and bring to justice the foreign and domestic criminals sourcing, producing and distributing illicit drugs, including counterfeit pills. HEALTH | FROM PAGE 17 the care they need.” “The rise in prescription drug prices has disproportionately harmed our most vulnerable communities, including my constituents and the patients I care for in the emergenThis alert does not apply to legitimate pharmaceutical medications prescribed by medical professionals and dispensed by licensed pharmacists. The legitimate prescription supply chain is not impacted. Anyone fi lling a prescription at a licensed pharmacy can be confi dent that the medications they receive are safe when taken as directed by a medical professional. The issuance of the Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills. DEA urges all Americans to be vigilant and aware of the dangers of counterfeit pills and to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. DEA warns that pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous and potentially lethal. For more information, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill. cy room,” said State Representative Jon Santiago, who is a lead sponsor of An Act to ensure prescription drug cost transparency and aff ordability. “Passing this bill not only improves access to lifesaving medications, but is a necessary tool to combat disparities in health care.” For Advertising with Results, Call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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