The Next Likely Target for Terrorism
By: David J. Gibson, MD

Click Here to download the full-article - (PDF 143kb)

From a terrorist’s perspective, the ability to discredit the government is much more important that causing physical damage. This ability to discredit is significantly enhanced if a known threat has been ignored.
It has been known for some time that the FDA’s ability to protect the deployed drug inventory within the United States has been compromised. A recent FDA study revealed that 88% of imported pharmaceuticals examined contained counterfeit drugs. Ones in the U.S., counterfeit drugs journey through a convoluted distribution chain and can readily mesh with legitimate product.
Florida’s grand jury in 2003 found that the wholesale pharmaceutical industry in Florida “has been corrupted by infiltration of a criminal element that is making a fortune while tainting our drug supply.” The World Health Organization has warned that annual trade in bogus drugs could be as much as $32 billion.

Terrorists and America’s Drug Inventory
Recently, Lester Crawford, the FDA Deputy Commissioner, warned that there is a “real risk” of a terrorist attack on this country through the U.S. drug supply. What could be more efficient from a terrorist’s point of view that the inadvertent recruitment of U.S. physicians and community pharmacists in their plot? Not only could the terrorists inflict injury and death upon America’s civilian population through prescription medications; they could also demonstrate that our government is not protecting its citizens from a known threat.

What Should be Done?
The public needs to know that their pharmacy products are safe. Working with the United Pharmacy Network, Inc. (UPNI), the Fraud Prevention Institute (FPI) has begun collecting deployed drug samples for testing by the USC School of Pharmacy. The proactive effort is supported by the SAFE (Security Assessed For Excellence) Network, community pharmacists who want to protect their consumers and validate the integrity of their retail pharmaceutical inventory.