The challenge for pharmacists is how to protect themselves from dispensing illegitimate prescriptions without interfering in the patient-doctor treatment plan.

1. The Pharmacist’s
Challenge
Caught in the Middle:

2. The Main
Challenge:
Attention is focused on the misuse and
abuse of prescription narcotics
A pharmacy becomes involved because
they became the unwitting dispenser
of illegitimate prescriptions
Pharmacist has a responsibility to the
patient, but doesn’t want to interfere
with the doctor-patient treatment plan

3. Overcome
These
Challenges:
• Visit and review state regulations, and
information on the DEA’s Office of Diversion
Control website
• Consider some of these suggestions…

4. Understanding
the Practitioners
Responsibilities
Practitioners have the responsibility to
ask the “right questions” to ensure
pharmacists are not unwittingly involved
in dispensing illegitimate prescriptions.
• Was there a legitimate diagnosis to warrant the
prescription?
• Was a sufficient physical exam conducted?
• Was the patient’s opioid tolerance examined?
• Are high or frequent quantities being prescribed?

5. The Patient Relationship
Although a pharmacist may not
have access to this information:
• They should conduct a patient and
prescriber profile
• They should ask the patient if their
doctor tested their opioid tolerance
These actions demonstrate due
diligence and help reduce the
risk of abuse, and help protect
you registration.

6. Things To Look For With
Patient Prescriptions
• Review the Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program (PDMP)
• Avoid filling opioid prescriptions when the
customer pays in cash
• Monitor the customer’s frequency
• For patients with insurance that doesn’t
cover the RX, verify with the insurance
provider and note the discussion on the back
of the prescription

7. Some pharmacists are uncomfortable questioning a physician, but as a
professional and critical gatekeeper to the nation’s drug supply, pharmacists
must make efforts to ensure they are not aiding drug diversion.

8. When noticing
a pattern of
suspicious
prescriptions,
consider these
questions:
What is the
prescriber’s
medical education
and training?
What is the
prescriber’s “field of
medicine”? Does it
seem appropriate to
be prescribing
opioids?
What are the
prescriber’s
“board” and “sub-
board”
certifications?
Has the prescriber
been sanctioned
by the State or
Federal Medicare
Program?
Have the state or federal
agencies taken action
against the prescriber due
to questionable
prescription practices?

9. Helpful Tools:
The best course of action to protect your
registration and your reputation, is to
employ the steps suggested in this
PowerPoint* and to ensure your
pharmacy operates with the policy that
promotes the wellness of your
customers.
* This PowerPoint is not a guarantee for DEA compliance, nor is it
associated with the DEA federal agency.

10. To learn more or to
discuss specific areas of
concern:
Call the experts at The Pharma
Compliance Group or e-SupplyLink
• www.pharmacompliancegroup.com
• solutions@pcgrx.com
• 1.855.7.PHARMA
• www.e-supplylink.com
• sales@e-supplylink.com
• 1.231.933.7212
Material adapted from “The Pharmacist’s Challenge” eBook by the
Pharma Compliance Group.