The Triad Business Journal, Greensboro, NC, featured a commentary by Charles Rhodes, M.D., President of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physician on the importance of being aware of fake online pharmacies. The rise of health care costs and the challenges of navigating the health insurance landscape are impacting the care that physicians can provide their patients.

According to Dr. Rhodes, “The medical community has seen tragic consequences for patients who have consumed poisonous fake medicines, and in other cases, patients who unknowingly ordered from a fake online pharmacy were taking placebo pills — which meant they were not getting the life-saving drugs they intended to be taking.”

His article highlighted how the the Academy of Family Physicians joined the council of the Verify Before You Buy campaign led by CSIP and the North Carolina Secretary of State. The purpose of the endeavor is to “build awareness and safe channels for North Carolinians purchasing prescription drugs online.”