On Aug. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that a number of Canadian online pharmacists involved in selling prescription drugs to American customers were dealing in counterfeit medications.

The FDA tested drugs purchased from 10 popular Canadian online pharmacy sites, discovering that a number of them, including the cholesterol drugs Lipitor and Crestor, the painkiller Celebrex, and the blood-pressure medication Diovan, were counterfeit. Buyers depending on these drugs, which contained either no active ingredients or heavily diluted dosages, were risking serious and even tragic consequences.

It's important to know that individuals who have trouble affording their medication don't need to run the risk of getting their medication from Canada.

New Jersey's pharmaceutical industry has always operated on the basis that community problems require a proactive response. A recent example is the challenge that many low-income New Jerseyans face in getting the medication they need.

Working with a large number of community organizations, the pharmaceutical industry founded Rx4NJ. Rx4NJ connects qualified, low-income individuals with the medicines they require, in most cases free of charge, direct from the manufacturer. Rx4NJ consists of 350 patient assistance programs operated by pharmaceutical companies, the state and federal governments and patient advocacy organizations. It covers more than 2,300 medications.

Rx4NJ simplifies the process of identifying and applying for these many different programs. The program provides a single portal and unified screening process for all 350 programs.

Individuals who lack drug insurance are encouraged to contact Rx4NJ on the Internet at www.rx4nj.org or through the program's toll-free number, (888) 793-6765. Once connected, the patient or caregiver is directed to the programs that address their particular medication needs.

Rx4NJ has been an unqualified success. In its first 18 months, the program has matched more than 130,000 patients with assistance programs, giving them access to free or low-cost drugs.

Since the founding of Rx4NJ in January 2005, dozens of new partners, including health-care groups and patient-advocacy organizations, have joined the Rx4NJ Partnership to promote the Rx4NJ to their clients.

In addition to Rx4NJ, the new Medicare Part D program provides affordable prescription drug coverage to the country's 40 million seniors, including the 1.4 million seniors in New Jersey. Now, no senior should fear going without their medication.

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