Counterfeit Botox, Drug Takeback Day, and National Minority Health Month, | FDA In Your Day Ep. 3

Check out episode 3 of FDA In your Day! Today, Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Namandjé Bumpus discusses National Drug Takeback Day, National Minority Health Month, and counterfeit Botox.
Transcript:
Here are a few things to know from April, it’s FDA In Your Day.
As we approach National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27th, I want to encourage everyone to take a look at the unused medications you may have. You can dispose of your drugs at home, but the best way to get rid of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines is through a drug take back program.
Check out our consumer update to learn more about drug take back programs and safe and responsible disposal of medications.
And remember, your medicine is for you. What’s safe for you might be harmful to others.
Also, this month, the FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity kicked off National Minority Health Month. On April 17th, they hosted “Strategies to Increase Clinical Trial Participation for Diverse Communities, A Panel Discussion with the OMHHE REACH Consortium.” Now, this consortium is committed to the core values of trust, respect, and relationship building, and is an important bridge between the FDA, researchers, and the diverse communities we serve. And its central aim is to help us respond to health equity needs timely and efficiently.
During the virtual panel we discussed the importance and benefits of building trust through meaningful and sustained engagement within communities as we work together to improve clinical trial participation among racial and ethnic minority, rural, urban, and other communities. By embracing diversity and inclusivity in clinical trial strategies, we not only advance efforts to support diverse communities to actively participate in clinical trial research, but we also pave the way for more equitable healthcare outcomes. You can visit fda.gov/health equity to find out more about National Minority Health Month.
And on a safety note, we’re working with CDC, and several state and local health departments to investigate reports of harmful reactions among people who received injections of counterfeit or mishandled botulinum toxin commonly called “Botox”.
So, if you’re considering an injection, please make sure to ask your health care professional if they’re licensed and trained in administration of the product. Your state might have a license look-up tool where you can check if a provider or setting has the appropriate license.
And if you’re looking for more to watch, check out this video by HHS from last year’s National Minority Health Month.