Mexican Drugs
It’s a widely known fact that illegal drugs have been transported into the United States for years. However, in recent years as the cost of prescription drugs in the US has soared, many Americans are traveling south of the border to bring Mexican drugs home. They do this to save money and for the elderly or those without prescription drug coverage it may be the only way to afford their medicines.
Most Mexican drugs are cheaper than in the US. For example, according to an article published by AARP in 2003, Prilosec cost about $4.00 a pill while the average cost in Mexico was less than a dollar. For many, this type of savings is worth the trip. The majority of visitors to Mexico who return with Mexican drugs are from neighboring states such as Arizona and Texas, but people from all over the country have purchased prescription drugs from Mexico.
There are some risks consumers assume when buying drugs from Mexico that may outweigh the benefits. The farmacias, or pharmacy, in Mexico is not regulated like in the US. Methods of storage, substitutions and inert ingredients may be different enough to compromise the effectiveness and even safety of the drug. This is the biggest problem with generic Mexican drugs. The FDA warns that not only is it illegal to personally import prescription drugs from Mexico, you may be risking your health.
It is not a heavily policed activity, but if caught, your meds could be confiscated and you may be fined. Still, thousands of people, primarily the elderly and destitute, do bring drugs home. It’s a risk many are willing to make because it could be the difference between having no medicine at all. However, before you decide to take Mexican drugs, you should be fully aware of the responsibility that you are taking on and know exactly what you are getting. You shouldn’t take substitute doses and avoid generic drugs when possible.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article.
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