The U.S. State Department issued a warning Friday for Americans to “exercise caution” when buying medications from drug stores in Mexico, posting the health alert a week after a letter from two lawmakers and an investigation by the Los Angeles Times.
“The U.S. Department of State is aware of recent media reports regarding counterfeit pharmaceuticals available at pharmacies in Mexico, including those tainted with fentanyl and methamphetamine,” the alert said. “Counterfeit pills are readily advertised on social media and can be purchased at small, non-chain pharmacies in Mexico along the border and in tourist areas.”
The new notice is stronger than previous language on the department’s website, which warned that counterfeit pills were common in the country. It did not specify that they could be purchased at legitimate pharmacies or that they might contain such potent and deadly substances.
