According to statistics, millions of American consumers import drugs from other countries. These drugs may be bought through international pharmacies, or they may be transported back to the United States after a person has traveled to that country. Besides Canada and Mexico -two of the most popular countries from which to import drugs-Americans traveling to other foreign countries are allowed to bring back a certain amount of prescription medication when traveling.

The Drug Markets

The United States has a drug market that is larger than both Europe’s and Canada’s drug markets combined. This makes for interesting prices, since the United States has thrived on having competition, but many Americans are turning to buying prescription drugs internationally. People from the United States may travel abroad to a foreign country in Europe, for example, and attempt to bring back prescription medications, but this can be a big problem if you do not have a written prescription from a United States doctor. If you do have a health problem when traveling abroad, you may be permitted to bring your medications back into the United States, but you will have to provide medical information to the customs agents.

Actually importing international drugs -if they are unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration-and then selling them to American consumers is illegal in the United States. There are citizens and even entire towns that have begun to import drugs through either American pharmacies online or in the stores, or through the foreign pharmacies themselves. One such pharmacy is a store called RxDepot, which ships medications from foreign countries, in particular Canada, to the United States. Consumers who have purchased medications through this venue claim they have saved hundreds of dollars. Springfield, Massachussetts, one town that has been purchasing drugs for its employees through foreign sources, says it has saved millions of dollars in prescription drug costs.

If you plan on purchasing international drugs through a venue that imports unapproved prescription medications, you should be aware that your actions may have consequences. The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to crack down on the illegal importation of prescription drugs. Not only do these drugs pose a potential health risk, but they are also not technically legal to be sold in the United States.

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