Risking It All for Lust

Viagra has changed the lives of millions of men. What factors such as age, diet and stress have contributed to Erectile Dysfunction can be successfully combated with application of the little blue pill. But such advances in pharmacological technology are expensive, and those costs are passed down to the consumer in the form of high prices. So despite knowing little to nothing about many of the internet vendors dealing "discount" prescription drugs, many men have attempted to purchase Viagra online.

Now the BBC has published a piece illustrating the extreme danger these online hunters at the intersection of lustful and miserly face. And it's not just Viagra. Drugs for the treatment of conditions ranging from cancer to heart disease proliferate online, despite that 90% of all prescription drugs sold online are fake. These counterfeit medicines are often enough made up of materials such as "talcum powder, or even rat poison." The problem is worse in Third World countries, where counterfeits used to fight conditions such as malaria have killed scores of vulnerable people. But in the rich United Kingdom, many men have bypassed legitimate channels to purchase drugs. Aside from a 90% chance of having just thrown their money away, these men face a real risk to their health.

Counterfeit Corleones

The rise of British organized crime is documented in this piece from the London Times. Note the prominence of smuggling in these criminal organizations whether it involves guns, cannabis, or counterfeits.

Fake Contraception Poses Risks, say Authorities

Hundreds of allegedly fake condoms have been found and seized by officials in the United Kingdom this week. The fakes, which fall under the jurisdiction of Lambeth council in South London, are three-packs falsely branded as Durex. They pose a huge risk to consumers, as they are more likely to tear and can otherwise be unreliable.

"These counterfeits cannot be relied upon to protect people against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy," says Lib Peck, cabinet member for environment and culture.

Trading officials have not released a list of where such fakes might be sold, simply saying that shops in Brixton and Herne Hill have been raided. Consumers are urged to check the serial number on the product, and remain aware of the issue.