NCJ Number
231410
Date Published
January 2010
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined police data for New South Wales (Australia) in determining whether the increase in the illicit use of prescription medicines (particularly pharmaceutical opioids) is reflected in police crime data, the criminal methods used to obtain these medicines, and which medicines are most often obtained through these methods.
Abstract
The analysis of police data for the years 1995 through 2007 show that the offenses of interest included theft of prescription forms/pads, the presentation of forged or altered prescriptions to pharmacies, and theft of prescription drugs. The drugs most often sought through prescription fraud were benzodiazepines; however, in 2007, the most frequently sought drug was oxycodone. Regarding thefts, pharmacies were the most targeted premises, with opioids and benzodiazepines being the most frequently stolen medicines. The overall number of police cases related to prescriptions drugs was low, indicating that police data may not capture some of the key methods, such as prescription-shopping, that are used to obtain prescription medicines for illegal use. Recent research suggests that prescription-shopping is among the most common methods of diverting prescription drugs out of the medical system for illegitimate consumption. The extent of the prescription-shopping problem in Australia is difficult to estimate. Further research is needed on this issue. 6 tables, 3 figures, 10 notes, 30 references, and appended listing of brand names of medicines within opioid and benzodiazepine categories