What type of drugs may be sold online as counterfeit pills?

The sale of counterfeit pills online is most commonly associated with strong prescription painkillers. These medications, often classified as opioids, have a high demand due to their potent effects in managing severe pain. Because of their controlled nature, these drugs can be difficult to obtain legally, leading individuals to seek out alternatives through illicit online markets.

Counterfeit pills are typically manufactured to resemble legitimate medications but may lack the active ingredients or contain dangerous substances instead. This poses significant risks to consumers who may be unaware they are purchasing fakes. The allure of strong prescription painkillers lies not only in their effectiveness for pain management but also in their potential for misuse, which further fuels the illegal market.

While weaker prescription drugs and non-prescription medications may also be counterfeited, the scale and risk associated with strong prescription painkillers make them especially prevalent in online counterfeit markets. Natural supplements typically do not attract the same level of counterfeit activity, primarily because they are generally not regulated with the same strictness as prescription medications.