Some Internet pharmacies are legitimate and reliable businesses. They require prescriptions and get medications from licensed facilities. In the United States, they must be state-licensed pharmacies operating in this country. Consumers can obtain confirmation by contacting their state board of pharmacy. Sites that include the VIPPS (verified Internet pharmacy practice sites) seal, issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, indicate the pharmacy is properly licensed to sell medication online.

Illegal Internet pharmacies are run internationally and lack a registered business address. They sell products of questionable origin that could be useless or poisonous, sometimes fatally.

In some developing regions of the world, more than 30 percent of medications are counterfeit, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States and other well-regulated nations, less than 1 percent of medications - but 50 percent of illegal online sales - are counterfeit, according to WHO.

WHO and other agencies have launched a global effort to fight counterfeit drugs. Methods being considered to authenticate medications include DNA technology, nanotechnology and cellular phone technology. The agencies are urging national governments to increase regulation and enforcement.

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