Substandard and Falsified GLP-1s: A Call for Education

This study investigates pharmacy students' awareness of substandard and falsified glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) medications in growing concerns over illegal online pharmacies and compounding facilities. As these medications gain popularity for weight loss and diabetes management, shortages have led patients to seek unregulated alternatives, exposing them to potentially dangerous counterfeit products. A pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted with seventy first-year pharmacy students to assess baseline knowledge and measure the impact of a one-hour educational intervention. The pre-survey results revealed limited awareness regarding the terms substandard and falsified medications, and how to properly report them. Following the educational intervention, knowledge improvements were substantial in their understanding of terminology, reporting mechanisms, confidence levels in verifying illegal pharmacies, and their ability to educate patients. The findings indicate that a brief educational intervention can increase pharmacy students' awareness of this public health issue. This research suggests the need for incorporating comprehensive education on substandard and falsified medications into pharmacy curricula to prepare future pharmacists to protect patient safety effectively.