Scammers are targeting Americans who are addicted to opioids by marketing phony treatment options, according to a new warning from the Better Business Bureau.
Many of the dietary supplements claim to be a “miracle cure” with “guaranteed results,” the agency said.
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Companies selling illegal, unapproved opioid cessation products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission recently posted joint warning letters to the marketers and distributors of about a dozen opioid cessation products.
The companies allegedly used online platforms to sell unapproved products with claims about their ability to help in the treatment of opioid addiction and withdrawal.
“The FDA is increasingly concerned with the proliferation of products claiming to treat or cure serious diseases like opioid addiction and withdrawal,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “People who are addicted to opioids should have access to safe and effective treatments and not be victimized by unscrupulous vendors who are trying to capitalize on the opioid epidemic by taking advantage of consumers and selling products with baseless claims.”
Joint warning letters were sent to these companies for the following products:
- Opiate Freedom Center (“Opiate Freedom 5-Pack”)
- U4Life, LLC (“Mitadone”)
- CalmSupport, LLC (“CalmSupport”)
- TaperAid (“TaperAid” & “TaperAid Complete”)
- Medicus Holistic Alternatives LLC (“Natracet”)
- NutraCore Health Products, LLC(“Opiate Detox Pro”)
- Healthy Healing, LLC (“Withdrawal Support”)
- Soothedrawal, Inc. (“Soothedrawal”)
- Choice Detox Center, Inc. (“Nofeel”)
- GUNA, Inc. (“GUNA-ADDICT 1”)
- King Bio, Inc. (“AddictaPlex”)
Bottom line: Beware of any product that makes claims like “miracle cure” or “fast results ‘ guaranteed,” according to the BBB. Many of the treatments that make such bold promises aren’t FDA-approved.
For those seeking treatment, find a list of resources on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s website.
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