John Horton

As an integral part of the ongoing effort to secure America's boarders from illegal, counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals, the FDA has taken a more proactive approach. Their goal is to prevent these types of products from ever entering the legitimate US drug supply chain. To this end, the FDA has analyzed data from existing drug related cases involving counterfeit and diversion activities.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is one of the Department of Homeland Security's largest and most complex components. Their primary mission is to keep terrorists and their weapons out of the United States. As if that task weren't enough, they are also responsible for securing and facilitating trade and travel - which encompasses immigration and the enforcement of our drug laws.

The US is a gateway for pharmaceuticals from just about anywhere on the globe. Though this presents an opportunity for a diversity of options, it also presents a staggering challenge for security forces to protect us against related vulnerabilities. Due to the complexity of the global pharmaceutical supply chain, it is more important than ever to secure the integrity of our domestic drug supply.

Consumer protection is top priority for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It is responsible for providing protection to consumers of various products and advancing the public's health by supporting innovations that improve the safety and performance of these products.

A component of the Executive Office of the U.S. President, the Office of National Drug Control Policy(ONDCP) was initially created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. The policy goal at that time was for a drug-free America. The ONDCP was assigned the tasks of setting priorities, implementing a national strategy and certifying the federal budget for drug control.

Here's a little information for fellow pet lovers out there. Did you know that there are established standards for veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPR)? A VCPR exists when your pet's veterinarian knows your four-legged friend well enough to be able to diagnose and treat whatever medical condition your animal may develop.

Electronic prescribing, or e-prescribing, is simply the process by which a patient's prescription information is electronically transmitted from the doctor's (or authorized care provider's) computer to a pharmacy computer.  It effectively replaces a paper prescription that the patient would otherwise be required to deliver to a pharmacy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It is responsible for providing protection to consumers of various products and advancing the public's health by supporting innovations that improve these products.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, commonly known as HIPAA, began as a "portability act" to enable people to "port" their health insurance coverage as they transitioned from one job to another.

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a national non-profit organization represents the seventy medical and osteopathic boards of the United States and its territories. The FSMB promotes excellence in medical practices, licensing, and regulation.  It is the national resource and voice on behalf of state medical and osteopathic boards in their efforts to protect of the public.