I just picked up a script for 45 of my 30mg oxys at a Walgreens in California. The pharmacist asked me what was the narcotic that I had filled at a Rite Aid on the 1st of July,(11 days prior) for 90 pills.
I got flustered and said "I don't know, probably the same thing, that's all I take" . She smiled and said okay proceeded to check me out.


Other than my drug problem, do I need to worry about Walgreens calling this in? I'm in California and I've heard a lot of bad things about Walgreens in other states. Do I need to go into hiding? I know they look for dealers,but I'm not dealing.

Plus,I'm sure I had guilt written all over my face.

I'm just wondering if anyone's had this happen to them?

I went to the Walgreens website and tried to find out information on their privacy policy and couldn't find any info.

Thanks for any help.

Relax, the pharmacist filled and provided you the med. it's their responsibility, but you do need to be careful and try and get this under control.

I have never heard of anyone arrested here in Ca. you may end up "blacklisted" however.

quote:

Originally posted by jimbobrob:
I just picked up a script for 45 of my 30mg oxys at a Walgreens in California. The pharmacist asked me what was the narcotic that I had filled at a Rite Aid on the 1st of July,(11 days prior) for 90 pills.
I got flustered and said "I don't know, probably the same thing, that's all I take" . She smiled and said okay proceeded to check me out.


Other than my drug problem, do I need to worry about Walgreens calling this in? I'm in California and I've heard a lot of bad things about Walgreens in other states. Do I need to go into hiding? I know they look for dealers,but I'm not dealing.

Plus,I'm sure I had guilt written all over my face.

I'm just wondering if anyone's had this happen to them?

I went to the Walgreens website and tried to find out information on their privacy policy and couldn't find any info.

Thanks for any help.

California has a Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) that, I have read, is the oldest in the country. It isn't a matter of Walgreens calling it in. Every CS script you get is reported to the PMP. All pharmacists and doctors have access to it. It is maintained by the California Department of Justice, which means it is maintained by law enforcement. I have not been following your situation, but you mentioned your drug problem and that apparently you have had a script filled for the same or another controlled substance less than two weeks ago. It is the state that is keeping track of your prescriptions (in addition, many chain pharmacies also keep track of what scripts are filled with them). All I can say is if you are getting prescriptions of similar medicines (e.g., opiate pain killers) from different sources in the state, there is a record of that. Now there isn't some sort of automatic investigation launched for any aberration detected with the PMP. I understand that investigations are launched first and the PMP is used to ascertain the facts (such as "doctor shopping", etc.). But if you are getting multiple scripts and even filling them at different pharmacy chains, there will be a record of it with the state. Again, I am sorry that I haven't been following your dilemna, but if your factual situation is similar to what I have described above, make no mistake, if a doctor or pharmacist wants to dig into what CS you have been getting and when and where, they can do that. However, from what I have read, it isn't used to just randomly check up on people, but rather to confirm or allay suspicions, and assist in investigations that are already under way.
Good luck,
PB

CURES Program

FAQs


CURES & Patient Activity Reports

Forms
Direct Dispensing Logs
Physician Patient Activity Report
Pharmacist Patient Activity Report
Lost Or Stolen Prescription Forms
Info
Law Changes For Prescription Drugs
BNE January 2005 Information Bulletin [PDF 107 kb / 2 pg]
Contact Program
CURES

4949 Broadway

Sacramento, CA 95820

Phone: (916) 319-9062

Fax: (916) 319-9448



The California prescription-monitoring program, CURES, is committed to assisting in the reduction of pharmaceutical drug diversion without affecting legitimate medical practice and patient care. The CURES program, restructured in 2003, originally evolved from the California Triplicate Prescription Program following numerous legislative enactments.

Created in 1940, the California Triplicate Prescription Program (TPP) was the oldest, longest running multiple copy prescription program in the nation. The TPP program regulated and monitored the distribution of Schedule II controlled substances through state-issued, serialized, triplicate prescription forms.

In 1998, the TPP program moved forward into the 21st century establishing an electronic monitoring system capable of capturing all Schedule II controlled substance data throughout the state. This system became the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES).

In 2004, Senate Bill (SB151) also brought about significant changes in the program by eliminating the 65-year-old triplicate form and replacing it with a secure tamper-resistant form, see CA Security Prescription Printers Program.

With subsequent legislative enactments, the CURES Program now captures Schedule II through IV.

The CURES program provides patient activity reports (PAR) to the medical community, investigative referrals to BNE field offices, print out requests to outside law enforcement for assistance in investigations, specialized reports to researchers, and statistical data to determine drug trends either statewide or region specific.

CURES System
The CURES system is designed to identify and deter drug abuse and diversion through accurate and rapid tracking of Schedule II and III controlled substances. It is a valuable investigative, preventive and educational tool for law enforcement, regulatory boards, educational researchers, and the healthcare community.

Investigation & Enforcement
The CURES program works to identify and analyze CURES data for possible diversion of controlled substances. Criminal Intelligence Specialists analyze the data for possible diversion, compile intelligence to support their findings, and disseminate the referral to the appropriate DOJ/Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement field offices. Upon request, CURES also provides aid to local law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Prevention & Intervention
The CURES program provides patient activity reports (PAR) in an effort to combat pharmaceutical drug diversion. The role of the CURES program trusts that well-informed practitioners can and will use their professional expertise to evaluate their patients’ care and assist patients who may be abusing controlled substances. PAR information is available to licensed healthcare practitioners and pharmacists

Thank you for your information. That puts me at ease. I understand my drug won't be available much longer soon. Great time to quit.

Interesting post. I had no idea that CA had such a program in place. I have read that many insurance companies monitor prescriptions to try to identify folks that try to get multiple prescriptions filled of the same medication, but did not know that states have something in place. I suppose this is for prevention of diversion of certain medications?