This blog has been reviewed by Lester Morse, Director of Rehabs UK and has taken expert knowledge from Clinical Pharmacologist and Public Health Advisor Dr Harriet Conway, and Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and Clinical Director of Patient.info

The internet has revolutionised how we access healthcare services, including the purchase of medication. With just a few clicks, it’s now possible to order a wide range of drugs, from painkillers to prescription-only medications, without ever stepping foot into a pharmacy. However, this convenience comes with serious risks.

A growing number of consumers, especially younger demographics and those struggling with addiction, are turning to online pharmacies and illicit websites to source their medication. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to 50% of drugs sold online through illegal sources are counterfeit or substandard. In the UK, the MHRA seized over 3.5 million fake and unlicensed medical products in 2023, a worrying indication of the scale of the issue.

“People often assume that if a website looks professional, it must be safe — but that’s simply not the case,” says Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director of Patient.info. “Illegally purchased drugs can lead to ineffective treatment, dangerous side effects, and in some cases, fatal overdoses.”

The Rise of Online Pharmacies

What Makes Online Drug Purchases Risky?

How to Identify Fake or Unsafe Online Drug Retailers

How to Identify Counterfeit Drugs

Speak to Rehabs UK for Guidance on Drug Use

Bibliography

Related Articles

The Rise of Online prescription drug Pharmacies

The digital age has transformed how people access medical products. In 2023, it was reported that 24% of UK adults had bought medication online, with 12% doing so without a prescription. Whether due to cost pressures, embarrassment, or difficulties accessing healthcare services, more people are choosing to bypass traditional medical channels.

Between August 2023 and September 2024, the UK’s national drug-checking service, WEDINOS, identified over 130 cases where individuals purchased what they believed to be prescription medicines such as diazepam online, only to receive tablets contaminated with nitazenes—a group of synthetic opioids significantly more potent than heroin or even fentanyl. A further 34 samples of heroin were also found to contain nitazenes, which have been linked to approximately 278 drug-related deaths across the UK during the same period.

Many of those resorting to the online market are individuals already caught in the grip of addiction. For some, access to medical support has become increasingly difficult due to long NHS waiting times, lack of services, or previous refusal of prescriptions after building tolerance. In desperation, they turn to unregulated websites to obtain medications they once accessed legally. These drugs often appear identical to legitimate prescriptions—down to the markings and packaging—but frequently contain unknown, highly dangerous substances. As Dr Jenny Scott, a pharmacist and senior lecturer in pharmacy practice, told the BBC, “It’s really concerning that people think they’re taking something relatively safe, when they’re actually consuming a drug many times stronger than fentanyl.”

This is part of a growing trend where addiction is silently shifting from the street to the screen. The anonymity and convenience of online purchasing makes it easy for individuals struggling with physical dependency to bypass healthcare safeguards. Many are not seeking a high, but simply trying to stave off withdrawal symptoms, manage chronic pain, or treat anxiety—often conditions for which they were originally prescribed medication. For example, online interest in sleeping pills surged by 83% in February 2023, according to Google Trends. One user told the BBC they began purchasing sleeping pills online after their GP refused to renew a long-standing prescription: “I just couldn’t sleep without them. It felt like the only option.”

Alarmingly, a 2024 report by WEDINOS showed that of all the drugs sold online as prescription medications, two-thirds contained unexpected active ingredients, with some combining multiple psychoactive substances. This poses serious risks of overdose, especially when individuals are unaware of the true contents. The tragic irony is that people seeking stability, relief or a sense of control are instead putting themselves at greater risk. As nitazenes and similar synthetic opioids proliferate, experts warn that without expanded access to addiction support, harm reduction services, and honest dialogue around dependence, many will continue to fall through the cracks—buying danger in the guise of help.

Benefits of Online Pharmacies

Convenience: Enables access to medication for people in remote areas or with mobility issues.

Privacy: Useful for individuals seeking treatment for stigmatised conditions such as erectile dysfunction or mental health issues.

Lower costs: Prices can often be cheaper than high street alternatives due to lower overheads.

Risks of Increased Access

Reduced regulation: Many websites operate outside of UK jurisdiction.

Exploitation: Vulnerable individuals, such as those with addiction, are often targeted.

Overmedication or misuse: Without proper medical oversight, users may self-prescribe inappropriately or mix medications unsafely.

What Makes Online Drug Purchases Risky?

Online purchases may seem safe, but they often bypass essential safeguards like clinical assessment, pharmacist review, and proper storage and transport.

Unregulated Sellers

Many sellers operate without any form of licensing or oversight. These websites often impersonate legitimate pharmacies or offer prescription-only drugs without a prescription. A 2021 report by Interpol found that over 90% of online pharmacies surveyed were operating illegally.

“When you buy from an unregulated seller, you’re essentially rolling the dice with your health,” warns Dr Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security.

Contamination

Illegally produced drugs are frequently made in unsanitary and unregulated conditions. They may be tainted with harmful substances such as pesticides, lead, or bacteria.

A BBC investigation revealed that antibiotics purchased from certain online platforms contained alarming levels of contamination, likely due to improper handling.

Contaminated drugs have been linked to severe allergic reactions, organ failure, and even death.

Incorrect Dosage

Counterfeit or substandard medications often contain too much or too little of the active ingredient:

• Underdosing can lead to ineffective treatment and antibiotic resistance.
• Overdosing increases the risk of toxicity, side effects, and overdose fatalities.

Without a qualified prescriber, individuals risk taking doses inappropriate for their age, weight, or health condition.

Fake prescription Drugs

Counterfeit medications are intentionally designed to mimic real drugs, often with packaging nearly identical to the original. These may contain no active ingredients, incorrect ingredients, or dangerous fillers.

• Counterfeit drugs are fakes deliberately made to deceive.
• Falsified drugs may be the result of manufacturing errors or fraud.

Either way, the lack of quality control can have devastating consequences.

How to Identify Fake or Unsafe Online Drug Retailers

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a legitimate online pharmacy and a criminal enterprise. Some sites look professional, use convincing branding, and offer customer service, but still operate illegally.

Signs of a Legitimate Online Pharmacy

• Displays the MHRA logo or was previously registered under the EU Common Logo (before Brexit).
• Listed on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register:
• Requires a valid UK prescription for prescription-only medicines.
• Provides access to qualified pharmacists for consultation.
• Includes a verifiable UK address and contact number.
• Secures personal and payment data with HTTPS encryption.

Signs of an Unsafe Online Pharmacy

• Offers prescription-only drugs without requiring a prescription.
• Prices are significantly lower than market value.
• Poor spelling, grammar, or outdated web design are red flags for scam operations.
• No professional or regulatory logos, or use of fake credentials.
• No clear refund, privacy, or data policy.
• Refusal to provide pharmacist access or medical advice.

How to Identify Counterfeit Drugs

Even if the pharmacy appears legitimate, the medication itself could still be counterfeit. Here are five characteristics to help you identify fake drugs:

• Packaging inconsistencies: Misspellings, blurred printing, or mismatched fonts.
• Missing batch numbers or expiry dates.
• Unusual tablet characteristics: Discolouration, odour, or unusual texture.
• No instruction leaflet: Legitimate medications always include one.
• Unexpected side effects: Especially if the drug feels more or less potent than expected.

For visual comparison, the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) provides images and security feature guidelines for common medications.

If you believe you have identified counterfeit medicine online, use the MHRA’s “Yellow Card” scheme to report suspicious products and help to keep healthcare as safe as possible as it moves further online.

Speak to Rehabs UK for Guidance on Drug Use

Whether you’re self-medicating for pain, mental health concerns, or dealing with substance misuse, buying drugs online can be a dangerous path. Self-treatment not only risks your physical health but can also mask deeper psychological or addiction issues.

“Treatment begins with honesty and support. You don’t have to go through this alone.” – Jakana, BACP Addiction Therapist at Rehabs UK

Rehabs UK provides:

Free assessments by addiction treatment advisors with lived experience

Referral to medically monitored and supervised detox programmes

Triage to Inpatient and outpatient treatment and recovery support

Access to therapists and support groups

Confidential and compassionate advice

Speak to one of our fully trained treatment advisors today for support around self-medication and addiction issues.

Bibliography

World Health Organization – Substandard and falsified medical products

MHRA – Fake medicine crackdown in 2023

Royal Pharmaceutical Society – Trends in online pharmacy use

Interpol – Operation Pangea: Cracking down on fake medicines

BBC – Online medicine sales investigation