1. Fraud, Scams and Slams: Health Care Quackery Prepared by: Dr. Jan Park Gerontology Specialist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension service April 2002

3. Medical Frauds Prey on the Elderly “Miracle Cures” Offer Hope

4. Dreaded Diseases Attract Quacks  Arthritis  Cancer  Anti-Aging Potions

5. Beware: Don’t Fall Prey to Quacks  “Miracle drugs”  “Too-good-to-be true products”

6. Ask Questions and Check Out the Product BEWARE!!!  Miracle cures  Natural products  Scientific breakthrough  Impressive jargon  No side effects

7. Ask Questions and Check Out the Product  Information being suppressed  Words like; detoxify, purify, energize  Testimonials  Available one source  Real cheap

8. Cyberspace Health Care Quackery Internet Scams

9. Buying Prescription Medicine Online  Way of the future

10. Advantages of Buying Medication Through the Internet  Convenience  Comparison shopping  Greater Variety

11. How to Buy Medications Safely on the Internet  New Prescription  Private sites  Licensed Pharmacies

12. How Does Online Sales Work?  Open account  Present prescription  Learn delivery method  Customer service Rx

13. Buy Only from Reputable Pharmacy Sites Buy Only from Reputable Pharmacy Sites Do’s  Licensed pharmacy  VIPPS  Prescription required  Prescription verification  Questions and answers

14. Buy Only from Reputable Pharmacy Sites (cont.) Don'ts  No customer service  No prescription required  Questionnaire  Buy from sites that sell medications not approved by FDA  Buy from foreign sites selling low cost medications Not required

15. The Problem with Regulating Internet Drug Sales Federal Trade Commission Federal Drug Administration National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Federation of State Medical Boards Verified, Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS)

16. Dietary Supplements a Heyday for Con Artists  Unproven Dietary supplements risky  Users! Don’t quit taking prescription medications  Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act St. John’s Wort

17. Dietary Supplements Pre-market Review Not Stringent

18. Read the Label Before You Buy  What is the product?  Quantity  Structure –Function claim  Directions  Serving size, active ingredients  Other ingredients  Manufacturer, Packer, Distributor  Customer service address/phone number

19. Product Claims Allowed  Nutrition content claims  Disease claims  Nutrition Support claims