HOW’s THAT LITTLE BLUE PILL WORKING OUT FOR YOU?
Originally Published the Week of Mar. 22, 2024 in Western Outdoor Publications
Mexico has always been a handy little place to get your medications…medicinal as well as recreational. For many, it’s just a hop, skip and jump…or flight across the border.
Thousand cross the border for legitimate medications. No question that they are often significantly cheaper and easier to obtain.
There are numerous chain as well as mom-and-pop storefronts that offer any number of pharmaceuticals. Many sell generic medications that are even less expensive than name brands which are already discounted.
Many medications that require prescriptions can be purchased easily over-the-counter. Or, in some cases, even prescription meds aren’t really that difficult to obtain.
In many places, there’s just one “little hurdle.”
For instance in our own city of La Paz, I was going travelling and had a minor tooth issue. I needed some antibiotics.
I went to the pharmacy and was told I needed a prescription. Right next door attached the pharmacy was a doorway to the “doctor.”
I walked through a little waiting room (no receptionist) to the “doctor’s office” down the hall. I was greeted by the doctor. Nice little office. White lab coat and he sounded like a real doctor.
Very professionally, he listened to what ailed me and agreed that the antibiotics would work. He wrote me the prescription. I paid $10 for the “consultation.”
I went back next door and purchased the antibiotics for about $8.
Easy-schmeazy!
I’ve purchased the same antibiotics in Cabo straight off the shelf behind the counter. Zero questions.
Paid the clerk and that was it. Done deal.
As long as it’s not a “controlled substance,” it doesn’t seem to be a big deal. Many of our friends and travelers do the same thing. It’s how it’s done.
You purchase your meds directly over the counter or you get a prescription next door.
Especially for locals where a visit to a doctor’s office can be expensive and time consuming, it’s much more expedient to just go straight to the pharmacy.
But, pump the brakes…
Acting on an investigative report by an American newspaper into Mexican pharmacies, Mexican authorities launched their own operation i.e. raids.
Numerous pharmacies including vendors in Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Puerto Vallarta were just some of the targeted cities. As well, popular tourist destinations on the Caribbean side such as Cancun and Playa de Carmen among others were scrutinized.
The results were troubling on many levels.
The “irregularities” were eye-opening as numerous drugstores were found to be selling counterfeit medications. Counterfeits were complete with meticulously perfect bottles and packaging.
As many as half of the vendors investigated were either selling illegal medications or fakes that were not the medications they were supposed to be. Sales were in standardized packaging as well as selling unbottled or packaged “loose pills.”
The infractions ran the gamut from legal medications that were “tainted” and/or outright fake. In other cases, dangerous medications were purposely mislabeled.
Investigators also found outdated medications as well as medications which had no known supplier. Blank prescriptions were also discovered.
Pretty scary stuff.
Some small samples…
In one search, almost all the pills sold as oxycodone, hydrocodone and Adderall were fake. Some samples actually tested as being meth or fentanyl. Some bottles of Adderall actually turned out to be clobenzorex which is an appetite suppressor.
The raids resulted in some arrests but also dozens of pharmacies being shut down and thousands of boxes and bottles of pills being confiscated. There were also some fines.
However, like many things, it’s not the end of the story.
Many pharmacies re-opened not long after. Business as usual.
Some employees admitted that they know when to hide the contraband as they are tipped off about raids. Others have secret stashes.
Some say, the searches are irregular. They are searched and authorities find the bad stuff and do nothing.
The most troubling part is that pharmacy owners cavalierly are dismissive saying the searches and closures will “just harm tourism.”
According to them, the searches shouldn’t be publicized acknowledging the volume of Americans that come to Mexico specifically to purchase supposedly “legitimate” medications.
Many admitted that they specifically targeted tourists and generally only sold the fakes and counterfeits to tourists. Tourists are easy and willing marks.
Afterall, it’s an old story. Supply and demand. Like illegal drugs, Americans want their meds.
They pay their cash. They leave. They go home. There’s no blowback on the business.
So, think twice about what you’re buying and where you’re buying it.
I never saw Viagra mentioned in any reports, but if it ain’t working or “lasts longer than 4 hours” like the commercials say…you might really need to see a doctor!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter Sportfishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
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Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Website:
www.tailhunter-international.com
Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
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Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/
Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g
“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”
That's My Story 