Americans are obviously concerned about their healthcare and the rising cost of prescription drugs -otherwise, the issue of international prescription medications would probably fall by the wayside. American citizens have every reason to ask questions and find out as much information as they can about the prescription drug market in the United States and the future of patients who need those drugs, especially in a society where the costs seem to be rising every day.

The Positives and Negatives

One benefit to the controversy surrounding the importation of prescription drugs is that the issue has brought attention to the subject of rising drug costs in the United States. As the United States becomes home to an increasing amount of aging baby boomers, the concerns about prescription drug costs have been on the rise. Many seniors -unaware of the ramifications of ordering drugs internationally through stores or various internet sites-have taken to purchasing their needed medications through foreign sources. In an era of dwindling social security, this has become increasingly important to seniors as well as younger people.

As the government becomes more aware of the controversy surrounding the subject, the Food and Drug Administration has begun to further crack down on the importation of unapproved drugs. Naturally, the government agency is concerned about the safety of its consumers. However, it may lighten some controls, as previously mentioned, for drugs used to treat severe disorders for which approved treatments are not available in the United States.

Part of the approval process for drug testing in the United States involves human research, so the FDA has good reason to monitor the types of drugs that come into and go out of the United States. Americans who purchase drugs internationally may take the risk of taking a drug that has not passed the same tests as those set by the FDA, and may risk side effects and other complications. Although these are just a few of the concerns about the importation of international drugs, consumers who do their research can now be aware of the controversy and debate that surrounds the subject.

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