Americans for Safe and Effective Medicines

The Illegal Drug Market Is Putting Consumers at Risk

Illegal sellers are exploiting demand for popular medicines, using professional-looking websites, social media and misleading health claims to make counterfeit and unapproved products appear legitimate.

The products may change, but the playbook is the same.

From investigational retatrutide and illegally marketed ketamine products to counterfeit Adderall, consumers may have no reliable way to know what they are getting, where it came from or whether it is safe.

Know the differences

Illegal Drugs Don’t Always Look the Same

Investigational medicine

Retatrutide: An Investigational Medicine Being Sold Before FDA Approval

Retatrutide is an investigational medicine being studied in clinical trials but is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The agency states that retatrutide cannot be used in compounding under federal law and has not yet been approved for human use.

But sellers promoting “retatrutide,” “Reta” or “GLP-3” online frequently use terms like “pure,” “lab tested” and “research use only.” Don’t mistake those claims for evidence that a product is legitimate or safe to use.

Unapproved products

Ketamine: Legitimate Medical Uses Don’t Equal Legitimate Products

Ketamine is FDA-approved as a general anesthetic for certain diagnostic and surgical procedures and is also sometimes prescribed off-label for conditions including treatment-resistant depression. But legitimate medical use does not mean every product marketed as ketamine is legitimate or safe.

FDA has taken action against websites illegally selling unapproved and misbranded ketamine products directly to consumers and has warned about the risks of unapproved ketamine products, particularly without appropriate medical supervision.

Counterfeit pills

Adderall: Counterfeit Pills Can Look Like the Real Thing

Federal authorities have warned that illegal online pharmacies are selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine to consumers who believe they are purchasing legitimate medicines, including Adderall. The Justice Department has charged operators of fake online pharmacies with allegedly selling counterfeit prescription pills to unsuspecting consumers.

Because of its wide usage, Adderall is a target of bad actors looking to take advantage of patients. Professional-looking websites and familiar drug names do not make an online pharmacy—or its products—legitimate.

Consumer checklist

Protect Yourself: Know the Warning Signs

Be cautious if a seller:

  • Offers prescription medicine without requiring a valid prescription.
  • Is not licensed by a state Board of Pharmacy.
  • Promotes an investigational drug that is not FDA-approved.
  • Does not provide a U.S. address, phone number or access to a licensed pharmacist.
  • Makes promises or lists prices that seem too good to be true.

Before you buy:

  • Talk to a healthcare provider. Use prescription medicines with appropriate medical supervision.
  • Check FDA approval. Confirm whether a medicine is FDA-approved. Terms like “lab tested,” “pure” or “research use only” do not mean a product has been reviewed or approved by FDA.
  • Report suspicious sellers. If you encounter a website or social media account that appears to be illegally selling medicines, report it directly to FDA and to the platform where you encountered it.
  • Report adverse events. Report unexpected side effects or other problems to FDA’s MedWatch program.

Consumers deserve to know that the medicines they rely on are legitimate, appropriately regulated, and safe.

Learn more

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