“Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug, and more than half take two, Mayo Clinic researchers say. ‘Often when people talk about health conditions they’re talking about chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes’, Dr. St. Sauver added.”
Prescription drugs are prescribed across all age groups to both men and women, with the exception of high blood pressure drugs that were rarely used before age 30. Overall, there are more prescriptions for women and older adults. In people younger than 19, vaccines, antibiotics, and anti-asthma medicines are most commonly prescribed. Among young and middle-aged adults, antidepressants and opioids are most common. In the United States, the use of prescription drugs has steadily increased over the past decade.
In its attempt to offset the sky-high prices Americans are paying for many essential medications, the Trump administration proposed a proposal that would allow the purchase of limited prescription drugs from areas where they retail for far less. Americans routinely skirt federal law by traveling to Canada or by visiting online Canadian pharmacies abroad to buy prescription drugs at a fraction of the price they would pay at home. It’s the only way they can afford to stay healthy or alive with the drugs they need.
The reality is that literally millions of people get their medicines this way every year and either they save a lot of money or they get a drug they couldn’t get because the prices here are too high. The inability to pay U.S. drug prices can be a matter of life and death for people with diabetes, which is why so many families look to meet their needs in Canadian pharmacy.
For example, Robin Cressman, a vocal advocate for lower drug prices who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2012, says she paid out of pocket $7,000 a year for the two insulin drugs she needs: Lantus and Humalog, even with insurance. Her credit card debt reached $30,000 at one point, Cressman notes. Last year, while on a visit to Tijuana, she stopped into some pharmacy to see if they had her medications. With little fanfare, she claims, for less than 10 percent of what they charged her north of the border, she was able to buy all products over the counter.
If you plan on crossing the border for your medicines or getting them through an online pharmacy abroad, here are two things you should know about.
1. Technically, it’s illegal.
2. You’re unlikely to be charged.
Despite the official ban, US governing body’s regulations require federal agents to refrain from compliance when the volume and intent are specifically for private use and the drug does not present an unacceptable threat to the consumer.
Personal use means the supply should not be more than a 90-day supply. When getting for volumes greater than that, you should think twice because if police believe you have criminal plans, you could end up in legal danger — and losing the goods.
People who are familiar with the procedure say that you can usually go through customs without much hassle if you have a drug for no more than three months, announce it to customs officers, and give them a doctor’s prescription or a personal note attesting that it is for private use, along with contact information for your doctor.
It is more normal for deliveries to be delayed for several days awaiting the review of the U.S. regulatory body. Therefore, if you need to take your prescription medication every day, make sure that there is sufficient room for future delays. And there are many rogue operators, particularly in the online pharmaceutical world. You’re going to have to do some vetting. Confirm that it is accredited in its country of origin and that the nation has strict pharmaceutical laws before doing business with an online pharmacy. Canada, New Zealand, Australia, much of Western Europe, and Turkey are nations with well-regulated pharmacies.
Often, verify that the pharmacy will post an address and phone number on its website. Researchers warn against the use of online pharmacies that do not need a prescription from a doctor: they are also more likely to cut certain corners.
A few websites, using these and other criteria, do the vetting for you.
- The Canadian International Pharmacy Association runs a website (cipa.com) that allows you to compare drug prices among thousands of pharmacies that have accredited their validity.
- PharmacyChecker.com offers a similar platform that connects clients to a wider range of online pharmacies internationally and in the United States.
Good Health 