Drug Diversion and Forgery Continuing Problem in U.S. Counties
Posted on February 2, 2010There is a growing problem of medication fraud and diversion in the United States and Pitt County is no deviation from the norm. According to a piece in the Reflector, the County Sheriff’s Office is paying closer attention to these problems, with Sheriff Mac Manning at the lead.
The county is seeing an increase in the illegal handling of prescriptions and prescription medications. Individuals are stealing, fraudulently using and forging prescriptions. Diversion of medications is also growing as individuals seek to use medications for non-medical reasons and beyond the prescribed amount.
Det. Gentry Pinner highlighted the cost of drug diversion and the impact it has on everyone who purchases health insurance. Pinner is a member of the sheriff’s narcotics unit and has been specializing in prescription fraud and illegal drug diversion since 2006.
When claims are made against health insurance that prove to be bogus, health insurance companies lose as much as $72.5 billion a year due to opioid abuse alone. These figures are captured by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
Pinner is hoping the receipt of certain grants will help in his caseload. One grant is part of an education and awareness campaign to slow the growth of prescription medication fraud in the county.
A second grant came from the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators and was made possible from funds through the Purdue Pharma pharmaceutical corporation.
Prescription forgery is the most common form of fraud battled by detectives, according to Pinner. This forgery often begins at the emergency room or urgent care center. Those seeking to milk the system will change the number of pills prescribed or alter the prescription to be any drug desired.
As such crimes continue to mount, law enforcement everywhere must step up their efforts to stay one step ahead of the criminals or risk fighting a losing battle.
