Video helps pharmacists identify ‘red flags’ of drug abuse

An educational video, released at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy annual meeting in May, helps pharmacists identify the ‘red flags’ of prescription drug abuse and diversion when they dispense controlled substances.

The video, “Red Flags,” developed by NABP and the Anti-Diversion Industry Working Group (ADIWG), encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment during the dispensing process to ensure that prescriptions were written for legitimate medical problems, and to be alert and proactive if they observe unusual patient behavior.

The ‘red flags’ or warning signs may not be easy to notice, but the video offers personal narratives and shows interactions between pharmacists and patients to demonstrate problematic circumstances during the presentation of a controlled substance prescription.

“Prescription drug abuse is a complex issue and, as one of the last lines of defense, pharmacists have a corresponding responsibility to recognize common red flags and establish a prescription’s validity to curb this abuse,” NABP President Joseph L Adams, RPh, said. “We appreciate the support of the ADIWG in providing pharmacists with this important informational video.”

Six ADIWG member companies sponsored the video, including Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Cardinal Health, McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen, Actavis, and Endo-Qualitest Pharmaceuticals.

Click here to see the video.