What if someone is truely messing around in the pharmacy? Messing with a controlled substance is a felony. Don't we have an obglitation to do the right thing to report it?. I really don't know doc, I am just throwing that idea out there. I would hate to have one of the assistants intentionally doing the shorting. I really don't know what I would do. I did get one whole script less one time, didn't count the number of scripts for the "Months" I signed for. He did trust me, and I always wondered where that script went to. Did I drop it knowing how important it was to me? or was their a printing error? Their PC said it was printed out. So in that case an office worker? I never figured it out. I was just plain lucky My doctor knows me as well as he does. I hope this does not happen to anyone. Check meds before leaving doctor with scripts, and at the pharmacy!. ginnie

What goes on in a pharmacy behind the counter, is PRIVATE business. A pharmacy is not a public place...it is private property. When the theft LEAVES the premises, then a crime has been committed. This goes for shoplifting too. A store can choose to not press charges you know in some crimes as well.

It is up to the owner/owners to oversee its functions.

If you know of large amounts of controlled drugs LEAVING illegally the place of business...you see transactions happening in the parking lot, or see things after hours....then you can call police. Outside is a public venue. It is illegal to have unlabeled drugs on your person (without a legal prescription vial) and you can be arrested for that. Pharmacists may be excluded, if transfer paperwork is present, say moving a small item from one store to another.

Most likely for large problems the DEA would be the one to do it.
In robberies, the DEA is often one of the agencies involved in the investigation.

But if you just suspect things, with no evidence, you need to get EVIDENCE before you blow any whistles. You have to prove it was not an "error" or professional mistake. And corporate is the one to gather this evidence and decide to call the authorities. The drugs belong to corporate.

It can get pretty complex....but in 40 yrs I have NEVER seen or heard of police being involved other than in robberies at the counter (by criminals) or break ins after hours. We call the police on theft from the floor and shoplifting, or disorderly conduct. I've been the one called into problem places when the pharmacist is being removed from duty. This is usually done by surprise, so they don't know what is happening.
But many times I've been the one to come in after, and clean up so to speak. I've seen many things over the years. And it is not common or pleasant.

That's fine. I'm just responding with my own personal opinion. Every situation has at least 2 sides (and sometimes more). I try to see things from all sides (though I don't always succeed) and from a broader perspective. Sometimes I even play devil's advocate for the sake of examining an issue from different perspectives.

In this case, I truly believe that more people - mostly honest patients - would be hurt, and have more to lose, by a public witch-hunt of a pharmacy, just as they do in a witch-hunt of a pain clinic. The "bad guys" are a small minority compared to the large majority of honest patients in need who will suffer as a result of a pharmacy being shut down for even a day.

I wouldn't want cops storming my pharmacy (terrifying the bejeebers out of sick people) and digging into peoples' personal private medical records because they're "looking for evidence of a crime".

The system in place (as I understand it) is to notify the state or corporate as MrsD has stated. IMO, give that system a chance to work as it's intended. Granted, "the system" doesn't always work, so if it doesn't, try to find out why, and proceed from there.

That's my nickel. (2¢ adjusted for inflation)

Doc

My doc writes me a one month supply of painkiller. This month, with a lot of guests in and out I was not wanting that much in the house. I paid for the o
Lot and asked the pharmacist to keep half of them until today. I guess he filled them and put them on the shelf in the ready area, because when I went get them they were gone.

It is a good independent, he gave me a weeks worth and will check with the other pharmacists to figure out what happened to them. Al least he knows me. It would be difficulty to go back to the doc,w explain what happened, and try to get a refill. Maybe even impossible.

I shudder to think if I had to go to a big bid pharmacy where you are nothing but a number.

Chains have a scan procedure and would show if the item waiting to be picked up was actually picked up. All that is logged.

Independents don't typically do that. However, if you paid in full with insurance? After a week most pharmacies put the RX back in stock every 7-10 days, to avoid billing when not picked up.
They would credit your RX however in the computer.

You need to find out more details on how things are done there.
Who would pick it up? Who would know it was there even?

Perhaps someone in the pharmacy? Or the record keeping was not done correctly.

It would be best to get your whole RX and lock it up or hide it, in your home, when visitors come and go. And don't talk about your medications to ANYONE. Even friends. They may tell others that you have desirable drugs in your home.

Not everyone cares to do this, but I invested in a small safe. Out of site out of mind, and worries are gone when you have company. ginnie

I go to a small family run drug store for all of my prescriptions. Maybe they gave you the 3 they shorted you last month? I always count my pills, my husband thinks I am crazy...maybe I am!