NABP expands list of ‘not recommended’ websites

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) released a new report about illegal online sellers of drugs and the need to combat them and their role in the opioid epidemic. “Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: January 2016” expands the number of websites the NABP classifies as “not recommended,” growing that list to 10,668 sites. 

 

The list of “not recommended” sites  — which was begun in 2008 — documents those that sell medication in a way that isn’t in compliance with federal and state laws or the NABP patient safety and pharmacy practice standards. NABP said that 60% of the sites don’t have a location on their website, which is done to sell counterfeit medication, and 50% offer drugs that are foreign or haven’t received Food and Drug Administration approval. 

 

NABP, in an attempt to make it easy for patients to figure out legitimate medication sellers, is also issuing Top-Level Domain names to pharmacies that qualify, giving them a .pharmacy domain (as opposed to .com or .net) to signify their legitimacy. Currently NABP has approved 351 domain names, with such companies as CVS, Express Scripts and Rite Aid having registered.