Is hydrocodone OTC in Mexico?

[alumni]

Obviously this is an ancient thread regarding the 2012 availability of buying controlled prescription drugs in Mexico.
The situation has evolved and changed over the years since.
As an example, I'm sharing some information from a recent peer-reviewed UCLA study about pharmacies selling controlled medications in tourist areas of Northern Mexico.

A brief recap of the results:
Of the 40 different pharmacies surveyed, 70% sold controlled drugs OTC with no prescription required.
But, of the 45 samples purchased, 40% were determined by lab analysis to be.... counterfeit.
7 of 11 sold as Adderall contained methamphetamine.
8 of the 27 sold as oxycodone contained fentanyl.
3 other pills sold as oxycodone contained heroin (diamorphine).

I guess a shorthand conclusion might be: There are now more pharmacies in Mexico selling controlled drugs without a prescription.
However, odds are 1 in 3 the "oxycodone" tablet purchased was actually laced with fentanyl!
And 40% of the drugs acquired in these samples were counterfeit!!

 

[jaders]

Obviously this is an ancient thread regarding the 2012 availability of buying controlled prescription drugs in Mexico.
The situation has evolved and changed over the years since.
As an example, I'm sharing some information from a recent peer-reviewed UCLA study about pharmacies selling controlled medications in tourist areas of Northern Mexico.

A brief recap of the results:
Of the 40 different pharmacies surveyed, 70% sold controlled drugs OTC with no prescription required.
But, of the 45 samples purchased, 40% were determined by lab analysis to be.... counterfeit.
7 of 11 sold as Adderall contained methamphetamine.
8 of the 27 sold as oxycodone contained fentanyl.
3 other pills sold as oxycodone contained heroin (diamorphine).

I guess a shorthand conclusion might be: There are now more pharmacies in Mexico selling controlled drugs without a prescription.
However, odds are 1 in 3 the "oxycodone" tablet purchased was actually laced with fentanyl!
And 40% of the drugs acquired in these samples were counterfeit!!

There was a local kid in my city who purchased oxycodone while on a trip with his parents there, and he died from an OD a few days after returning home. Very very sad…

 

[Gullible]

The laws are that only certain doctors can prescribe narcotics and you have to go to a special pharmacy to get them. What has been described is illegal and they could be arrested by mexican police. Or pay them some money and they go away lol

 

[alumni]

@Gullible
According to this 2023 UCLA research, 70% of the dozens of Mexican pharmacies visited were found to be selling controlled drugs over-the-counter without a prescription, including oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax, etc.
Based on that study, it sounds like the Mexican authorities aren't very active at enforcing the laws you reference.
Worse yet are the examples of prescription pills purchased that were counterfeit and adulterated with meth, fentanyl and even heroin.
There may be strict pharmacy laws on the books in Mexico but apparently enforcement continues to be a whole other story.