Red Flags of Drug Misuse and Abuse

Most DEA registrants are genuine and law-abiding citizens. Yet, it is easy for them to fall prey to unscrupulous elements if they don’t pay attention to the potential red flags in patient behavior.

DEA registrants are in the thick of things when it comes to drug diversion. They are subject to a host of DEA controlled substance regulations for this very reason. It is very easy for them to abet or even indulge in misuse and abuse of controlled substances, either intentionally or even unintentionally.

Indeed, it often happens that physicians and pharmacists that are registered to handle controlled substances often fall prey to illicit elements that manipulate them to obtain illegitimate access to these scheduled drugs.

 

More than aware of the possibilities, the DEA has informally identified a number of red flags that should raise suspicions about the veracity of the ‘patient’s’ claims. Like:

• Patient visiting a physician earlier than recommended
• Patient insisting on a particular medication
• Patient complaining of ‘symptoms’ that cannot be clinically correlated to their condition on physical examination
• Patient complaining profusely about having lost or misplaced a prescription/medication
• Patient traveling an unusually far distance to fill the prescriptions
• Nearly identical prescriptions written by the same doctor for two people with the same last name and same address
• Filling prescriptions for drug cocktails like opioids, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, etc. for the same patient
• Patients paying for drugs in cash
• Filling prescriptions for the same drug in different quantities for the same patients
• Multiple prescriptions for the same medication presented on the same day
• Early refills wherein a patient submits a prescription before he/she should have finished the supply from the last refill

Therefore, the circumstances surrounding the patient or the presentation of the prescription can raise suspicions of validity. The DEA registrants should keep their eyes and ears open for such dubious activities and act on them accordingly. The best approach is to simply refuse to prescribe or dispense the controlled substances in such situations.

Moreover, DEA registrants should be proactive and engage with the regulators. It is better to alert the authorities about such suspicious behavior so that they can investigate the culprits and take punitive action accordingly.

Having anti-diversion protocols in place is also vital for all entities that prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances, including veterinary controlled substances. Here, it is all about training the team so that they are well-versed with the regulations on the one hand and familiar with how to identify the red flags in the regular course of work.

Navigating these demanding waters can become easier when the DEA registrants have a professional compliance service provider on their side. They offer tailored services to ensure that the registered entity always fulfills its obligations without stepping out of the law in any instance. There will be reviews, assessments, audits, training et al to ensure that the physician or pharmacy is in good standing vis-à-vis its obligations as laid out by the Controlled Substances Act.