Controlled Substances and the Internet

There are some medications and products that the Food and Drug Administration prefers be kept out of the hands of the general public. These are controlled substances, and may have achieved that status for a number of reasons. Some of them are highly addictive in nature, even if taken properly, and the medical community believes it would be best to use them only as a last resort. Others have side effects that can be worse than any condition that they might be used to treat, so they are used only when all other options have failed.

The Internet

The advent of the Internet has made it much easier for individuals to get their hands on products they should not have access to. Online pharmacies have received some criticism in the past for being a major risk in letting restricted or controlled products into the hands of people who should not have them. The industry has taken steps to stop this from occurring, however. There are stricter controls and regulations in place now, limiting who can purchase what, even over the Internet.

FDA regulations

An online drugstore that wants to be legitimate needs to first gain approval in the form of a license. One of the strictest requirements for a license involves the potential sale of a controlled substance. Very few sites are allowed a license to operate if they intend to sell a controlled drug. The ones that do not are required to have a statement on their website – usually under Terms and Conditions – stating that they do not sell controlled medications and comply with FDA regulations on the matter. In some areas of the United States, there are state regulations that make it financially impractical to sell these in any location other than a hospital.

Prescription checks

People who buy medication online often need to prove that they have a prescription for the medication they are ordering if it is not available over-the-counter. This also applies to controlled substances, allowing an online drugstore to verify whether or not an order should be filled before any money changes hands. A controlled medication will only be prescribed in the most drastic of cases, and legitimate Internet pharmacies will take great pains to make sure an order for one is legitimate. A pharmacy that sells these substances will also typically warn customers of its status as an FDA controlled substance.

Online consultations

In some cases, Internet pharmacies that offer online consultations can also help limit the spread of a controlled substance. These consultations are sometimes required for a patient to get a prescription before an order can be filled. The doctor on the other end can choose to recommend an alternative, rather than go directly to a controlled drug. This allows a limitation on which patients get the most potent and dangerous medications available.