c. Each unit must establish a Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for the
storage of controlled medical substances in the field. The SOP should specify the
structure to which the safe may be secured. Large trees have been found suitable for
this purpose; however, trees have been known to be cut down. With the permission of
the unit commander, the center poles of tents may be used. In any event, the safe must
never be left unattended at any time. There should be some unit personnel who are
designated to be in the area at all times. The unit may not be able to fully comply with
the security requirements for a table of distribution and allowances (TDA) fixed facility
pharmacy, but the spirit and intent of those requirements must be enforced.
Section IV. FORGERY CONSIDERATIONS
2-14. INTRODUCTION
Some patients will go to great lengths to secure unauthorized controlled
substances or unauthorized quantities of controlled substances. The most common
method used to obtain these controlled drugs is by the forgery of a prescription or by
forgery of certain parts of the prescription. Forgery is a crime under the Uniform Code
of Military Justice as well as a crime under Federal law.
2-15. DEFINITION OF THE TERM FORGERY
Forgery is the crime of falsely and fraudulently making or altering a document.
An alteration of any part of the prescription (document) constitutes a forgery.
2-16. DETECTION OF A FORGERY
As a pharmacy specialist, you will have your first contact with the forger at the
pharmacy outpatient window. How should you evaluate a prescription to determine if it
is a forgery? There are some general guidelines you can follow to help you identify a
forger or forged prescription.
a. Appearance of the Patient. To help you evaluate a person that appears at
the pharmacy window with a prescription for a controlled substance, ask yourself these
questions:
(1) Is the patient wearing sunglasses on a rainy day or at night? If so, this
could indicate the patient is a drug abuser (for example, heroin).
(2)
Is the patient wearing a long sleeved shirt on a very hot day?
(3)
Is the patient abnormally nervous or disoriented?
MD0812
2-11
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