With a few computer keystrokes and without ever seeing a doctor Americans can buy powerful prescription drugs including some not approved for sale in this country.
Supporters say consumers are savvy enough to buy medicines over the Internet.
But health experts fear the growing trend could endanger, even kill, patients. The DEA and several states are looking into Web sites that sell prescription drugs over the Internet. Several states are investigating Web sites, and the Drug Enforcement Administration has raided at least one Internet doctor as the government struggles with how to control drugs in cyberspace both here and abroad. We're very concerned about this. North Carolina is probing Web sales of a computer program that teaches patients to diagnose their own problems and then pick a medication from foreign Web sites.