The Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a public safety alert today, warning Georgians about the dangers of counterfeit pills.
Since January 2015, the GBI says the state crime lab has received 454 exhibits of pills that contain drugs other than what’s indicated by their markings.
An internal study of pills submitted to the lab by law enforcement agencies across Georgia reveals metro-Atlanta has the highest incidence of counterfeit, non-pharmaceutical pills in the state.
Dozens of counties outside the metro area also are seeing an influx of these pills. In Northeast Georgia, counterfeit pills have been found in Habersham, Towns, Franklin, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Dawson, Forsyth and Hall (see map below).
By a significant margin, the top counterfeited logos are alprazolam (Xanax) and oxycodone, according to the GBI. The two most common classes of drugs found in the counterfeit tablets are depressants and opiates (see Chart A below)
Specific substances found in the counterfeit pills in varying amounts include cocaine, caffeine and Tramadol, among others (Chart B).
Officials express particular concern over transdermal opiates being disguised as non-transdermal drugs.
“Essentially, drugs that can be absorbed through the skin (transdermal) are being placed in these pills and marketed and marked as non-transmerdal drugs (drugs that are not absorbed through the skin),” explains GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles.
That’s an important distinction since mere contact with the counterfeit pills can pose a threat, making the use of illicit drugs even more dangerous.
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