Ordering prescription medications on-line can be a safe, affordable, and easy way to have your prescriptions filled. More and more Americans are using the Internet legally to fill prescriptions. But, you need to know that:

* There are only a small number of safe, legal, and legitimate on-line sources for prescription drugs that you should use.

* The only safe way to obtain a prescription to order from a legitimate on-line site is to first have a face-to-face meeting with your doctor. He or she will take the necessary steps, to include a physical examination and any tests, to properly diagnose your aliment and prescribe appropriate medications.

* With a valid prescription from your doctor, you can fill, or refill in many cases, a prescription for a Controlled Substance over the Internet.

Ordering drugs over the Internet can be dangerous, illegal, and expensive:

* It’s estimated that there may be close to 5 million websites offering drugs to consumers without a prescription. Many of these sites are not pharmacies at all and are not affiliated with doctors. They are a means for drug dealers to illegally sell and distribute controlled substances and other drugs to consumers electronically. There is no quality control.

* Many of these sites—and the sources of the drugs---are controlled by individuals operating overseas---e-traffickers in white coats, masquerading as doctors and pharmacists. You have no idea where the drugs you order originate, if they contain safe ingredients, and if they are what you think they are.

* You may think you are dealing with a legitimate “doctor” as you order drugs on the Internet. In some cases, you are asked to fill out a questionnaire that is approved by a “doctor.” These forms do not constitute a medical exam, and they do not represent a valid doctor/patient relationship. Any doctor who enables you to buy products on-line without a valid prescription is breaking the law. He or she can be arrested and lose the ability to practice medicine.

* You are also breaking the law by ordering without a valid prescription from a doctor.

* Children and teens can order illegal drugs on-line easily. A teen can log on to a computer and order drugs with a credit card or money order. In addition, credit card statements do not accurately reflect charges for drugs on the Internet---they are often disguised as benign purchases using false company names.

* Many of these sites charge a great deal more for the drugs than a legitimate pharmacy would.

You can protect yourself from illegal online pharmacies. Look for common indicators to identify whether a website may not be legitimate and should not be used to purchase controlled substances:

* The site should have a physical address for the pharmacy, in addition to its phone number –if it doesn’t, it’s probably suspect.

* Real pharmacies don’t send spam to advertise to consumers—if you get spam drug ads, report them as spam and don’t open them.

* Suspect sites don’t participate in insurance plans and demand that purchases be made by credit card or money orders.

* Illegitimate sites only have a limited number of drugs for sale.

* These sites usually advise you about the law and why it is permissible to purchase drugs from foreign countries on the Internet—don’t be fooled. It’s illegal.

* Suspect sites do not ask the name, address and phone number of your physician. Nor do they ask for a prescription.

* These sites advise you to have drugs sent to a P.O. Box or other location to evade law enforcement.

If you suspect an illegal online pharmacy, you can take action:

* Report it on DEA’s website www.dea.gov

* Or call DEA’s toll free number: 1-877-792-2873