A European community pharmacy-based survey to investigate patterns of prescription fraud through identification of falsified prescriptions

European Addiction Research

Volumn 20, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 174-182

  Lapeyre Mestre, Maryse ^a   Gony, Mireille ^a   Carvajal, Alfonso ^b   Macias, Diego ^b   Conforti, Anita ^c   D'incau, Paola ^c   Heerdink, Rob ^d   Van Der Stichele, Robert ^e   Bergman, Ulf ^f  

^a Faculté de Médecine Centre Hospitalo universitaire   (France)

^b UNIVERSITY OF VALLADOLID   (Spain)

^c UNIVERSITY OF VERONA   (Italy)

^d UTRECHT UNIVERSITY   (Netherlands)

^e GHENT UNIVERSITY   (Belgium)

^f KAROLINSKA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL   (Sweden)

Author keywords

Abuse; Benzodiazepines; Community pharmacies; Methylphenidate; Opioids; Prescription fraud

Indexed keywords

ALPRAZOLAM; BROMAZEPAM; BUPRENORPHINE; CLONAZEPAM; CLORAZEPATE; CODEINE; DEXTROPROPOXYPHENE; DIAZEPAM; FLUNITRAZEPAM; FUROSEMIDE; LORAZEPAM; LORMETAZEPAM; METHYLPHENIDATE; MORPHINE; OXAZEPAM; PARACETAMOL; PRESCRIPTION DRUG; TETRAZEPAM; TRAMADOL; ZOLPIDEM; ZOPICLONE; BENZODIAZEPINE DERIVATIVE; CENTRAL STIMULANT AGENT; NARCOTIC ANALGESIC AGENT; COUNTERFEIT DRUG;

ADULT; ARTICLE; BELGIUM; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY; EUROPEAN UNION; FEMALE; FRANCE; FRAUD; HEALTH SURVEY; HUMAN; INAPPROPRIATE PRESCRIBING; ITALY; MAJOR CLINICAL STUDY; MALE; NETHERLANDS; PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY; PHARMACY; PRESCRIPTION DRUG DIVERSION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REIMBURSEMENT; SPAIN; SWEDEN; ADDICTION; EUROPE; PRESCRIPTION; STATISTICS AND NUMERICAL DATA; PRESCRIPTION FRAUD;

ANALGESICS, OPIOID; BELGIUM; BENZODIAZEPINES; BUPRENORPHINE; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM STIMULANTS; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES; DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS; EUROPE; FRANCE; FRAUD; HUMANS; ITALY; METHYLPHENIDATE; MORPHINE; NETHERLANDS; PHARMACIES; SPAIN; SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS; SWEDEN; TRAMADOL;

EID: 84892764449     PISSN: 10226877     EISSN: 14219891     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1159/000356812     Document Type: Article

References (54)

1. Hernandez SH, Nelson LS: Prescription drug abuse: Insight into the epidemic. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2010; 88: 307-317
2. Griffiths P, Mounteney J, Lopez D, Zobel F, Gotz W: Addiction research centres and the nurturing of creativity. Monitoring the European drug situation: The ongoing challenge for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Addiction 2012; 107: 254-258
3. Casati A, Sedefov R, Pfeiffer-Gerschel T: Misuse of medicines in the European Union: A systematic review of the literature. Eur Addict Res 2012; 18: 228-245
4. El-Aneed A, Alaghehbandan R, Gladney N, Collins K, Macdonald D, Fischer B: Prescription drug abuse and methods of diversion: The potential role of a pharmacy network. J Subst Use 2009; 14: 75-83
5. Barrett SP, Meisner JR, Stewart SH: What constitutes prescription drug misuse? Problems and pitfalls of current conceptualizations. Curr Drug Abuse Rev 2008; 1: 255- 262
6. Fischer B, Bibby M, Bouchard M: Non-medical use and diversion of psychotropic prescription drugs in North America: A review of sourcing routes and control measures. Addiction 2010;105:2062-2070
7. Frauger E, Nordmann S, Orleans V, Pradel V, Pauly V, Thirion X, Micallef J: Which psychoactive prescription drugs are illegally obtained and through which ways of acquisitioñ About OPPIDUM survey. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2012; 26: 549-556
8. Bergman U, Griffiths RR: Relative abuse of diazepam and oxazepam: Prescription forgeries and theft/loss reports in Sweden. Drug Alcohol Depend 1986; 16: 293-301
9. Bergman U, Dahl-Puustinen ML: Use of prescription forgeries in a drug abuse surveillance network. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1989; 36: 621-623. (Pubitemid 19175876)
10. Baumevieille M, Haramburu F, Begaud B: Abuse of prescription medicines in southwestern France. Ann Pharmacother 1997; 31: 847-850. (Pubitemid 27332471)
11. Lapeyre-Mestre M, Damase-Michel C, Adams P, Michaud P, Montastruc JL: Falsified or forged medical prescriptions as an indicator of pharmacodependence: A pilot study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1997; 52: 37-39. (Pubitemid 27168209)
12. Llau ME, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Plas L, Damase- Michel C, Montastruc JL: Forged medical prescriptions in a community pharmacy network in Midi-Pyrenees area: Assessment of a falsification ratio. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 57: 911-912. (Pubitemid 34185563)
13. Boeuf O, Lapeyre-Mestre M: Survey of forged prescriptions to investigate risk of psychoactive medications abuse in France: Results of OSIAP survey. Drug Saf 2007; 30: 265-276. (Pubitemid 46425637)
14. Frauger E, Pauly V, Pradel V, Rouby F, Arditti J, Thirion X, Lapeyre Mestre M, Micallef J: Evidence of clonazepam abuse liability: Results of the tools developed by the French Centers for Evaluation and Information on Pharmacodependence (CEIP) network. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2011; 25: 633-641
15. Peyriere H, Eiden C, Micallef J, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Faillie JL, Blayac JP: Slow-release oral morphine sulfate abuse: Results of the postmarketing surveillance systems for psychoactive prescription drug abuse in France. Eur Addict Res 2013; 19: 235-244
16. OECD: Health at a Glance 2009: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing, 2009. DOI: 10.1787/health-glance-2009-en
17. Buurma H, Bouvy ML, De Smet PA, Floor- Schreudering A, Leufkens HG, Egberts AC: Prevalence and determinants of pharmacy shopping behaviour. J Clin Pharm Ther 2008; 33: 17-23
18. Westerlund LT, Bjork HT: Pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies: Practice and research in Sweden. Ann Pharmacother 2006; 40: 1162-1169
19. Rahimi B, Timpka T: Pharmacists' views on integrated electronic prescribing systems: Associations between usefulness, pharmacological safety, and barriers to technology use. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2011; 67: 179-184
20. Gugelmann HM, Perrone J: Can prescription drug monitoring programs help limit opioid abuse? JAMA 2011; 306: 2258-2259
21. Weill A, Paita M, Tuppin P, Fagot JP, Neumann A, Simon D, Ricordeau P, Montastruc JL, Allemand H: Benfluorex and valvular heart disease: A cohort study of a million people with diabetes mellitus. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2010; 19: 1256-1262
22. Victorri-Vigneau C, Dailly E, Veyrac G, Jolliet P: Evidence of zolpidem abuse and dependence: Results of the French Centre for Evaluation and Information on Pharmacodependence (CEIP) network survey. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007; 64: 198-209. (Pubitemid 47063241)
23. Hajak G, Muller WE, Wittchen HU, Pittrow D, Kirch W: Abuse and dependence potential for the non-benzodiazepine hypnotics zolpidem and zopiclone: A review of case reports and epidemiological data. Addiction 2003; 98: 1371-1378
24. Pradel V, Delga C, Rouby F, Micallef J, Lapeyre- Mestre M: Assessment of abuse potential of benzodiazepines from a prescription database using 'doctor shopping' as an indicator. CNS Drugs 2010; 24: 611-620
25. Baumevieille M, Daveluy A, Maurain C, Begaud B, Haramburu F: Medicines submitted to narcotics regulations in France, 1992- 2007. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2009; 23: 345- 349
26. Griffiths RR, Johnson MW: Relative abuse liability of hypnotic drugs: A conceptual framework and algorithm for differentiating among compounds. J Clin Psychiatry 2005; 66(suppl 9):31-41. (Pubitemid 43011561)
27. Faccini M, Leone R, Pajusco B, Quaglio G, Casari R, Albiero A, Donati M, Lugoboni F: Lormetazepam addiction: Data analysis from an Italian medical unit for addiction. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2012;5:43-48
28. Frances C, Hoizey G, Millart H, Trenque T: Paediatric methylphenidate (Ritalin) restrictive conditions of prescription in France. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2004; 57: 115-116. (Pubitemid 38067958)
29. Bruggisser M, Bodmer M, Liechti ME: Severe toxicity due to injected but not oral or nasal abuse of methylphenidate tablets. Swiss Med Wkly 2011; 141:w13267
30. Frauger E, Pauly V, Natali F, Pradel V, Reggio P, Coudert H, Thirion X, Micallef J: Patterns of methylphenidate use and assessment of its abuse and diversion in two French administrative areas using a proxy of deviant behaviour determined from a reimbursement database: Main trends from 2005 to 2008. CNS Drugs 2011; 25: 415-424
31. Gumy C, Huissoud T, Dubois-Arber F: Prevalence of methylphenidate prescription among school-Aged children in a Swiss population: Increase in the number of prescriptions in the Swiss canton of Vaud, from 2002 to 2005, and changes in patient demographics. J Atten Disord 2010; 14: 267-272
32. Treceno C, Martin Arias LH, Sainz M, Salado I, Garcia Ortega P, Velasco V, Jimeno N, Escudero A, Velasco A, Carvajal A: Trends in the consumption of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications in Castilla y Leon (Spain): Changes in the consumption pattern following the introduction of extended release methylphenidate. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2012; 21: 435-441
33. Lapeyre-Mestre M, Llau ME, Gony M, Navel AM, Bez J, Grau M, Montastruc JL: Opiate maintenance with buprenorphine in ambulatory care: A 24-week follow-up study of new users. Drug Alcohol Depend 2003; 72: 297- 303
34. Pradel V, Thirion X, Ronfle E, Masut A, Micallef J, Begaud B: Assessment of doctorshopping for high dosage buprenorphine maintenance treatment in a French region: Development of a new method for prescription database. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2004; 13: 473-481
35. Vidal-Trecan G, Varescon I, Nabet N, Boissonnas A: Intravenous use of prescribed sublingual buprenorphine tablets by drug users receiving maintenance therapy in France. Drug Alcohol Depend 2003; 69: 175-181. (Pubitemid 36262027)
36. Pauly V, Pradel V, Pourcel L, Nordmann S, Frauger E, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Micallef J, Thirion X: Estimated magnitude of diversion and abuse of opioids relative to benzodiazepines in France. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012; 126: 13-20
37. Cicero TJ, Adams EH, Geller A, Inciardi JA, Munoz A, Schnoll SH, Senay EC, Woody GE: A postmarketing surveillance program to monitor Ultram (tramadol hydrochloride) abuse in the United States. Drug Alcohol Depend 1999; 57: 7-22. (Pubitemid 29452951)
38. Cicero TJ, Inciardi JA, Adams EH, Geller A, Senay EC, Woody GE, Munoz A: Rates of abuse of tramadol remain unchanged with the introduction of new branded and generic products: Results of an abuse monitoring system, 1994-2004. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2005; 14: 851-859
39. Adams EH, Breiner S, Cicero TJ, Geller A, Inciardi JA, Schnoll SH, Senay EC, Woody GE: A comparison of the abuse liability of tramadol, NSAIDs, and hydrocodone in patients with chronic pain. J Pain Symptom Manage 2006; 31: 465-476. (Pubitemid 43744403)
40. Tjaderborn M, Jonsson AK, Hagg S, Ahlner J: Fatal unintentional intoxications with tramadol during 1995-2005. Forensic Sci Int 2007; 173: 107-111
41. Tjaderborn M, Jonsson AK, Ahlner J, Hagg S: Tramadol dependence: A survey of spontaneously reported cases in Sweden. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2009; 18: 1192-1198
42. Lakemedelsverkets (Medical Products Agency): Classification document. http://www. lakemedelsverket.se/malgrupp/Halso- sjukvard/Forskrivning/ Narkotikaklassadelakemedel/ (accessed December 4, 2013)
43. Gaubert S, Vie M, Damase-Michel C, Pathak A, Montastruc JL: Dextropropoxyphene withdrawal from a French university hospital: Impact on analgesic drug consumption. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2009; 23: 247-252
44. Hamunen K, Paakkari P, Kalso E: Trends in opioid consumption in the Nordic countries 2002-2006. Eur J Pain 2009; 13: 954-962
45. Cherny NI, Baselga J, de Conno F, Radbruch L: Formulary availability and regulatory barriers to accessibility of opioids for cancer pain in Europe: A report from the ESMO/EAPC Opioid Policy Initiative. Ann Oncol 2010; 21: 615- 626
46. Compton WM, Volkow ND: Major increases in opioid analgesic abuse in the United States: Concerns and strategies. Drug Alcohol Depend 2006; 81: 103-107. (Pubitemid 41821793)
47. Ling W, Mooney L, Hillhouse M: Prescription opioid abuse, pain and addiction: Clinical issues and implications. Drug Alcohol Rev 2011; 30: 300-305
48. Cicero TJ, Inciardi JA, Munoz A: Trends in abuse of oxycontin and other opioid analgesics in the United States: 2002-2004. J Pain 2005; 6: 662-672. (Pubitemid 41395058)
49. Hamunen K, Laitinen-Parkkonen P, Paakkari P, Breivik H, Gordh T, Jensen NH, Kalso E: What do different databases tell about the use of opioids in seven European countries in 2002? Eur J Pain 2008; 12: 705-715
50. Ministere de la Sante: Decret no 2007-157 du 5 fevrier 2007 relatif aux substances veneneuses et modifiant le code de la sante publique. Journal Officiel de la Republique Francaise 07-02 2007, 0032, 0020
51. Schwan S, Sundstrom A, Stjernberg E, Hallberg E, Hallberg P: A signal for an abuse liability for pregabalin - results from the Swedish spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting system. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010; 66: 947-953
52. Caster O, Edwards IR, Noren GN, Lindquist M: Earlier discovery of pregabalin's dependence potential might have been possible. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2011; 67: 319-320
53. Pauly V, Frauger E, Pradel V, Nordmann S, Pourcel L, Natali F, Sciortino V, Lapeyre- Mestre M, Micallef J, Thirion X: Monitoring of benzodiazepine diversion using a multiindicator approach. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2011; 26: 268-277
54. Agence Nationale de Securite du Medicament et des Produits de Sante: Etat des lieux de la consommation des benzodiazepines en France, 2012. http://www.ansm.sante.fr/var//ansm-site/storage/original/application/3f1d c4756b5bc091879c9c254d95e05c.pdf (accessed December 4, 2013).