When it comes to dangerous drugs, many folks don’t think about the prescription medication they have in their own bathroom cabinets and, when they do, thoughts typically turn to youngsters grabbing pills that they shouldn’t be.

But what could be dangerous about taking your own prescriptions properly, as recommended by a doctor? Well, if you’re getting your pills from a source other than a legitimate pharmacy, the answer could be “a lot.”

According to studies conducted by the Center for Disease Control, a big contributor in drug-related deaths is counterfeit medications. These are frequently tied to folks taking medications that were improperly produced and frequently sold online. As our 1A coverage notes this week, it can be difficult to tell if an online pharmacy is legitimate and, given the increase in deaths tied to opioid overdose as a result of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, we don’t think that’s a risk worth taking.

We understand that the draw of cheaper medications can be convincing but, if you aren’t positive of where those medications are coming from, we encourage our readers to think twice before hopping online to fill a prescription. Saving a few bucks is not worth the risk.