Combating counterfeit medications: the California pharmacist perspective

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Public Health
• Health Policy

Background:

• Counterfeit medications pose a growing global public health threat.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has observed a significant increase in investigated counterfeit drug cases.
• While less prevalent than elsewhere, counterfeit drugs are an emerging concern in the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess California pharmacists' knowledge regarding counterfeit medications.
• To investigate the impact of technology on counterfeit drug detection and pharmacist involvement.
• To identify barriers hindering pharmacists' engagement in combating counterfeit drugs and explore potential pharmacist roles.

Main Methods:

• Survey of California pharmacists regarding counterfeit medications.
• Inquiry into awareness and perceived effectiveness of technologies like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
• Assessment of perceived barriers to detection and willingness to engage in solutions.

Main Results:

• 59.3% of surveyed pharmacists view counterfeit drugs as a professional problem, yet most have limited direct experience.
• Key perceived sources of counterfeit drugs include internet pharmacies (44.5%), professional counterfeiters (39.4%), and importation (16.1%).
• Significant barriers identified were lack of knowledge (46.8%) and resources (82.5%). Awareness of RFID technology was moderate, with skepticism about its effectiveness (43%).

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists acknowledge the counterfeit drug issue but face knowledge and resource deficits.
• Technological solutions like RFID show mixed perceptions regarding effectiveness and awareness among pharmacists.
• There is a need for enhanced pharmacist education on counterfeit detection and emerging technologies, alongside improved resource allocation.