Counterfeit Pills
Counterfeit pills are fake medications that have different ingredients than the actual medication. Even if a pill “looks” correct, if purchased illicitly, it still may be counterfeit. Many fake pills are made to look like prescription opioids or stimulants and contain no legitimate medication. Prescription pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous, and potentially lethal.
Nationally, evidence of counterfeit pill use in overdose deaths has more than doubled in recent
years. These fake pills have been increasingly easy to purchase, with sales taking to the internet and social media.
In 2023, 7 out of 10 DEA-tested fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.