Mexican pharmacies selling pills laced with fentanyl to U.S. tourists

OAN Brooke Mallory
UPDATED 1:15 PM – Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Mexican pharmacies are a popular destination for Americans looking to buy pharmaceutical medication and other healthcare services at a fraction of what they cost in the United States.

There are many reports of overdoses from pharmacies that sell medications that look safe but are often laced heroin, methamphetamines and deadly fentanyl.

Research is ongoing It was discovered that many of those analyzed medications, which were illegally purchased in four cities in northern Mexico, contained dangerous and potentially harmful substances.

“For pills sold as oxycodone, we tested 27 and found 10 or 11 of them contained either fentanyl or heroin,” Chelsea Shover, a UCLA School of Medicine researcher.

Shover states that people who purchase unregulated medication without knowing it are at risk of overdose or even death.

“When I see there are fentanyl pills somewhere that look like prescription drugs, I know there have to have been people who’ve died from that,” Shover.

Although Mexico’s citizens may also purchase these drugs and bring business to the pharmacies. However, their main clientele is typically Americans who are looking for low-cost alternatives.

David Trone, and Edward J. Markey were two lawmakers who wrote a letter asking Congress for a travel advisory to warn Americans about the dangers of purchasing medications from Mexican pharmacies.

“We should be absolutely very concerned… We have almost 12 million Americans visiting Mexico every year.” Rep. David Trone (D.Md.Representative David Trone (D-Md.), was one of the authors. Let me know Sent to Congress

Trone states that Mexican pharmacies might be adding these substances in their pills to create more dependence and an addiction which eventually drives customers to return for more.

It is primarily a profit-boosting tactic. However, consumers are often unaware of the real workings behind the scenes.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles Times reported on March 11.^Th Although State Department officials knew of the threat posed Mexican pharmacies in 2019, they didn’t mention it in any high profile alert or statement to U.S. tourists.

Trone stated repeatedly that travelers should have been notified sooner about the dangers of these potentially dangerous medications being sold on legal markets.

“We’ve heard nothing back (from the State Department) and it’s very frustrating,” He stated.

The State Department has posted an update advisory Mexico has a website that offers information online about how to be cautious when buying medications abroad.   

“Counterfeit medication is common and may prove to be ineffective, the wrong strength, or contain dangerous ingredients,” The advisory states.

It does not mention the risks associated with consuming fentanyl-laced medication that is often sold at legally-operating pharmacies.

This news comes as four Americans were kidnapped earlier this month while traveling through Mexico to seek affordable medical care. Zindell and Shaeed Brown, the two kidnapped travelers were killed.

A week later, the Mexican drug cartel wrote an apology letter. It took responsibility for the murders and stated that some of its members had mistakenly identified the travelers as someone else. The Mexican authorities would then turn their men in.

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Rep. Steve Toth

Alex Bruesewitz

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