Even prior to the pandemic, community-based pharmacies have been essential sources of care and support for families, especially those most in need of resources for accessing health care, food, financial assistance, etc. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community pharmacies are located in most communities in the US and more than 90% of the US population live within 5 miles of one. They are frequented more than the primary care provider’s office and this has been further heightened by COVID-19. While traditional visits to the doctor or hospital have been hindered or moved to telehealth, the local pharmacy has been a source of not only pandemic-specific health and safety information, but also guidance for managing chronic diseases. Read More

As 2020 came to an end, the American Medical Association (AMA) collaborated with Manatt Health to release its updated National Roadmap on State-Level Efforts to End the Nation’s Drug Overdose Epidemic. The roadmap offers best practices and needed next steps to improve access to patient care and prevent deaths from overdoses. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further heightened the challenges with opioid addiction and overdose. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 81,000 overdose deaths occurred in the US in the period between May 2019 and May 2020 –  the highest number ever recorded in a 12 month timeframe. Read More

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has forever changed the American landscape. From the economy to the health care system to family/community dynamics, we wonder when “normal” will return and what that will look like. We also see that the COVID-19 crisis has only further spotlighted the health disparities and challenges facing our most at-risk individuals and families. Amid trying to socially distance and stay safe, we cannot forget those who are facing this pandemic while also facing chronic diseases – including substance use disorders. Read More

A recent announcement highlighted CSIP’s partnership with North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall to promote the value of online pharmacy verification, especially during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people seek to access prescription medications online. The partnership also includes tech giants and CSIP members Twitter, Facebook, Google and Microsoft in a joint effort to promote the free pharmacy verification tool on the website VerifyBeforeYouBuy.org to North Carolina residents. There is a great need for such verification, due to the fact that many online pharmacies are illegitimate and could pose grave dangers to consumers, including the sale of counterfeit and unsafe medications and identity theft. Read More

The following press release was issued by CSIP and the North Carolina Secretary of State, highlighting the details of the month-long VerifyBeforeYouBuy.org campaign focused on keeping families safe during COVID-19.

North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Global Tech Companies Partner to Keep Families Safe When Purchasing Prescriptions Online

Raleigh, N.C. (May 6, 2020) – As cities and counties across North Carolina continue to stay at home and practice social distancing related to COVID-19, online purchasing has skyrocketed, forcing most of us to purchase everything from groceries to prescription drugs online. The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall, today announced the launch of a new online public awareness campaign for Verify Before You Buy. Read More

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In partnership with the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP), Tech Together launches new online support tools for those battling opioid addiction and substance use disorder

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) – a non-profit dedicated to consumer protection and education around online pharmacies and prescription drugs – and a coalition of tech leaders Google, Facebook and Twitter have joined forces to announce a new online platform TechTogether.co. The site is a collection of resources to help those experiencing substance use disorder or battling addiction and the associated stigma. Read More

As we face an international public health crisis not experienced in the lifetime of even some of our oldest citizens, we, at CSIP, are truly grateful to all frontline health care workers who are supporting families around the country. While the acute concerns of “Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019” (COVID-19) plague cities around the US, there is also the underlying concern for those facing more long-term health issues – including those in opioid addiction treatment and those in need of regulated opioids for medical issues. Read More

Supporting FDA, FTC and DOJ, CSIP joins in effort to prevent the online sale of  fraudulent medications amidst coronavirus pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and its members, dedicated to the education and protection of consumers from counterfeit medications and illegal online pharmacies, urge the American public to report medications promising treatment of the “Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019” (COVID-19) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by e-mailing the NCDF at [email protected]. CSIP’s VerifyBeforeYouBuy.org will also serve as a resource for those seeking to verify medications online amidst the global coronavirus pandemic. Read More