Seniors should be wary of online prescriptions

OC COUNCIL ON AGING

The Orange County Senior Citizens Advisory Council, along with the Office on Aging, is issuing a warning about the dangers of purchasing online medication.

Fake prescription pills are easy to purchase and widely available online. Fake pills are often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms—available to anyone with a smartphone.

Criminal drug networks are massproducing fake pills and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. The fake pills often contain fentanyl or other illicit drugs and can be deadly, according to DEA officials.

The Office on Aging recommends that seniors learn how to buy prescription drugs safely on the internet by visting www.FDA.gov/BeSafeRx.

—Mariann Klinger