What are illegitimate online drug sellers

A simple internet search will turn up hundreds of websites that sell drugs. Some websites are legitimate online pharmacies, while others may be operating illegally.

These illegitimate drug sellers may:

• offer products and services that are dangerous

• sell drugs that have not been authorized for use in Canada and that may pose safety concerns

• offer prescription drugs based on answers to online questionnaires

• take advantage of people who are desperate for relief for their pet by offering miracle cures for serious illnesses such as cancer

• refer to themselves as an online pharmacy when they have not been licensed by a Canadian pharmacy regulatory authority

​​

Risks associated with buying drugs online

Buying drugs from illegitimate sellers, who may not provide a street address and telephone number, may pose serious health risks. You have no way of knowing:

• where these companies are located

• where they get their drugs from

• what's in their drugs

• how to reach them if there's a problem

The risks of ordering from these websites include getting:

• drugs past their expiry date

• drugs with dangerous additives

• drugs with the wrong ingredients

• counterfeit drugs with no active ingredients

• drugs contaminated or adulterated with other drugs, such as a prescription drug or controlled substance

Even if these drugs do not harm your pet right away, their condition may get worse without effective treatment.

Illegitimate drug sellers do not tell you that it's dangerous to give a prescription drug without being assessed and monitored by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian is there to make sure the drug is helping your pet.

If you order prescription drugs without your pet being assessed and monitored by a licensed veterinarian, your pet may be misdiagnosed. You would miss the opportunity to have an appropriate treatment for your pet's medical condition. You may also put your pet at risk for drug interactions or harmful side effects that a veterinary team could warn you about.

Buying drugs from illegal online sellers may also pose financial risks. In some cases, the product may not be shipped at all. Or, if it's coming from another country, it could be stopped at the border by Canadian authorities.

​

Online pharmacies in Canada

In Canada, pharmacies and/or pharmacy owners are regulated by the pharmacy regulatory authority in the jurisdiction (province or territory) where the business is established. A legitimate pharmacy and/or pharmacy owner, including online pharmacies and owners of online pharmacies, will be:

• licensed by the pharmacy regulatory authority in that jurisdiction

• members of the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA)

Any pharmacy in Canada that offers online services must meet the standards of practice within its own jurisdiction.

If you have questions about whether an online pharmacy is legitimate:

• contact the licensing body in your province or territory

• check the Online pharmacies section of NAPRA's website

Learn more:

• Choosing a safe online pharmacy

• Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies

• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

​​

Reducing your risk

Do not take any prescription drug that has not been prescribed for your pet by a licensed veterinarian in Canada.

Do tell your veterinarian about all the health products you give your pet, including vitamins and natural health products, as well as prescription and over-the-counter drugs. They need this information to assess and advise you about potential side effects and drug interactions.

If you decide to order drugs online:

Do not do business with a website that:

• refuses to give you a street address, telephone number and a way to contact a pharmacist

• offers prescription drugs without a prescription or offers to issue a prescription based on answers to an online questionnaire

• claims to have a miracle cure for any serious condition

• sells products that do not have a drug identification number (DIN) issued by Health Canada

Do make sure you're dealing with a Canadian-based website that:

• is linked to a pharmacy physically located in Canada; also known as a "bricks-and-mortar" pharmacy

• meets the regulatory requirements in Ontario.