Counterfeit drugs are a major problem in the developing world, where retail chains like Walgreens don’t exist and pharmacists sell drugs out of small, family-run shops. Counterfeiters insert fakes—which often contain chalk or lead-based paint—at different points in the supply chain. They often sell directly to pharmacists, who think they’re buying a discounted version of the real thing. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, counterfeit drugs represent a $1.6 billion annual market in Africa and Asia alone.
