Partnership for Safe Medicines offers help against bogus drugs

The Partnership for Safe Medicines is offering consumers tools to protect their families from counterfeit drugs. The tools are offered through its Web site at http://www.safemedicines.org. The tools include SafeMeds Alert System, a free e-mail service that broadcasts counterfeit drug alerts from the FDA; SAFEDRUG Checklist, an eight-step guide to increase knowledge of medicine safety and what to do in an emergency; Safe Savings, a guide to discount and support programs in the U.S.; and VIPPS Pharmacies, a direct link to legitimate on-line pharmacies recommended by the FDA.