Viers sparks DHEC response on Mexican prescriptions

Posted on February 12, 2008 
Filed Under News

Following a story in the Herald about Mexican general stores selling prescription drugs over the counter, state Rep. Thad Viers contacted the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control concerning the problem.

The Mexican stores, or tiendas, routinely sell drugs that are normally sold only by doctor-issued prescriptions at regular pharmacies. Most of the drugs being sold, according to DHEC, are antibiotics or others that are not controlled substances.

The drugs are made by American manufacturers but are sold under Spanish names.
A DHEC spokesman told Viers that since the prescription drugs being sold are not controlled substances, there are no actual legal violations that can be enforced by DHEC or federal Drug Enforcement Agency investigators.

Mark Hough of DHEC told Viers that the problem is a cultural issue because selling these drugs over the counter is a common practice throughout Mexico and Central America.

“Many of the clerks either do not know that such practices in this country are not proper or they choose to ignore it,” Hough said. “What we do as an agency is assist local law enforcement when they conduct raids on these types of stores. We have found that most of the medications are not controlled substances and, therefore, do not come under our authority. We try to educate the store owners and clerks about the potential dangers of such activities.”

Hough said the state’s Board of Pharmacy will issue a cease and desist order when the situation is brought to light.

He added that it’s difficult to conduct large-scale raids because of the internal communication networks that exist among the tienda owners.

“As soon as one tienda is hit, the stuff immediately disappears from the shelves at other stores in the area,” Hough said. “We’re not sure how they are getting the antibiotics, although we suspect through the Internet or more likely, through manufacturers and distributors in Central American nations.”

He added that the DEA is looking to set up some guidelines nationwide to combat the problem.
Viers said the issue is just one more piece of the puzzle that needs to be solved in the ongoing immigration battle. He has filed several bills for this session of the General Assembly to deal with areas involving illegal immigrants in the state.

By Tom O’Dare
The Myrtle Beach Herald
2/07/08