RFID - Would it Keep Counterfeit Drugs Out of Local Pharmacies?

Is RFID, radio frequency identification technology, the solution to the counterfeit drug problem? A member of our chatroom brought up a report about counterfeit drugs which she had seen on Dateline NBC. I missed the show but went to look for the story online, since many others in our group wanted to read it. The Dateline story, "Inside The World Of Counterfeit Drugs" may surprise you.

We've all heard warnings about buying drugs online or across the borders. We've been warned about the quality of such drugs and possibility some may even be counterfeit. The Dateline story revealed that some drugs have made their way to the shelves of local pharmacies in the United States. None of the drugs named were arthritis drugs but the information is pertinent to anyone who takes any prescription medication. The report is unsettling and it leaves you wondering what you can do.

RFID is already used for OxyContin and Viagra. With RFID, companies can track medicines from the factory to the pharmacy, as a way of protecting against counterfeit drugs that have been tainted, tampered with, or lack the active ingredient. Why are we not doing this for all prescription drugs? It's being considered and plans for RFID are being made.

As a consumer, you must pay close attention to what your drugs should look like and be aware of anything that changes - color, taste, smell? Are there cracks or chips on the pills? Does the packaging look different, if you see the original package? As a consumer, your job is to know this can happen and be more aware of what you're getting from your pharmacy.

• How to Spot Pharmacy Errors
• How to Avoid Medication Errors
• How to Reduce the Risks of Using Arthritis Medicines

_{Photo by Adam Ciesielski (stock.xchng)}