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Former President Jimmy Carter dies at 100. Unions, worker co-ops tackle historic wealth gap; NM political expert says 'polarization' is the logical word of the year; AL higher-ed conference to address workforce, boost student transfers.

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Former President and humanitarian Jimmy Carter dies at age 100, extended funding for 9 11 responders is cut from the federal budget, and Republicans prepare a major overhaul of the nation's voting procedures.

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From the unprecedented election season to the latest environmental news, the Yonder Report looks back at stories that topped our weekly 2024 newscasts.

AL, US see rise in counterfeit weight loss medicine sales

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Wednesday, July 31, 2024   

Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise in Alabama and nationwide.

The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills laced with fentanyl in 2021. Now, online scammers are counterfeiting the weight-loss drug Ozempic, including insulin pens with an Ozempic label.

The Food and Drug Administration seized thousands of units of fake Ozempic in late 2023 but research shows numerous lifestyle drugs are being counterfeited daily.

Shabbir Imber Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicine, said telehealth can push people to take medications they would not normally qualify for.

"To do something significant -- like to go on an injectable drug for a long period of time, that is going to have serious consequences for your health and nutrition, and your weight -- you really need to see a real doctor, not a computer doctor, not a doctor in a chat room," Safdar argued. "I think some telehealth companies have normalized the fact that that's not important."

Some pharmacies and clinics face lawsuits for selling knockoff drugs through telemedicine. Safdar explained a major red flag is when an online ad promises expedited access to a certain drug without a prescription.

Social media sites like TikTok, Facebook, and Etsy have only expanded a person's ability to get counterfeit drugs. Though federal agencies and lawmakers have issued warnings, Safdar pointed out the biggest challenge to maintaining public safety is the public.

"When you skip that pharmacist in that white coat and you go online and try to pick a pharmacy yourself, or you pick a telemedicine doctor yourself, you've skipped all of the safety checks," Safdar stressed.

There is a proposal in Congress to implement stricter regulations on the sale of drugs through social media platforms. The bill would require social media sites to monitor and report illegal drug sales to law enforcement.


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Jimmy Carter, seen here with Mashun D. Simon and Carter's wife Rosalynn, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his many years of international humanitarian service. (Photo courtesy of Simon)

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