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the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 won final approval from both houses of Congress

The act — which will help regulate rogue online pharmacies where many kids purchase pills for illicit use — should soon be signed into law by President Bush.

Nearly one in five teenagers — that's 4.5 million — admit to abusing medications not prescribed to them, reports a 2005 study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pressuring a number of Internet service providers to shut off nearly 12 dozen Web sites alleged to be selling counterfeit or unapproved prescription drugs.

sent 22 warning letters

selling phony pharmaceuticals, all without requiring a prescriptio

The analysis showed that fewer web sites are selling and promoting controlled substances than last year (361 vs. 581); in the new report, 206 sites were found to advertise drugs and 159 offered drugs for sale. However, only two are "legitimate" pharmacy sites, meaning they have received certification by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS). To receive VIPPS accreditation, a pharmacy site must comply with the licensing and inspection requirements of their state and each state that they dispense prescriptions in.

Half of the sites that require prescriptions allowed faxed copies, creating a "significant opportunity for fraud." The drugs most frequently offered for sale were drugs such as Xanax and Valium, followed closely by opioid painkillers including hydrocodone (contained in drugs like Vicodin, Lortab), codeine, and oxycodone (contained in drugs such as OxyContin and Percocet). The number of sites offering stimulants for sale increased to levels not seen since 2004.

The report showed many sites do not require prescriptions: 85% of online pharmacy anchor sites did not require a prescription to buy controlled drugs. Of that group, 42% specifically said that no prescription was needed. 13% never mentioned a prescription. 45% offered an "online consultation." The study also shows that many sites get their drugs from overseas: Slightly less than a fourth of online pharmacy anchor sites said the drugs would ship from a U.S. pharmacy. 40% said they'd come from outside the U.S. 36% didn't say where the drug would be shipped from.