Pharmaceutical Drug Investigations

Course Length: 1 day (8 hours)

MCTFT Coordinators: Gail Walker (727-344-8020)

Diverting Pharmaceutical drugs from their prescribed and appropriate use is a major problem not only to our law enforcement but also to our health care professionals. This course is for the detective who is assigned to a pharmaceutical crime unit or investigation. This course will address the crimes associated with pharmaceutical drug diversion, criminal methods, investigative techniques, evidence collection and the importance of involving a prosecutor at the onset to prepare the case for successful prosecution.

Course Objectives

• Describe pharmaceutical drug diversion criminal methods and strategies for a successful prosecution.
• Discuss successful strategies and lessons learned for investigating “Doctor Shopping”.
• Discuss successful strategies and lessons learned for investigating prescription fraud.
• Describe the motivations and traits of pharmaceutical drug diversion criminal activity.
• Understand the guidelines of privileged information or protected health information relating to pharmaceutical drug diversion investigations.
• Describe investigative techniques for utilizing “Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)”.
• Discuss successful strategies and lessons learned for investigating “Pill Mill” criminal enterprises.
• Understand the importance of involving a prosecutor at the onset of pharmaceutical drug diversion investigations.
• Understand the importance of documentation, report writing and case management for pharmaceutical drug diversion investigations.
• Describe how networking and collaboration with law enforcement, regulatory and other entities improves pharmaceutical drug diversion investigative outcomes.

Overview of topics

• Doctor Shopping
• Prescription Fraud
• Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
• Pill Mill Investigations
• Pharmaceutical Investigations Red Flags
• Pharmaceutical Resources

Course Schedule and Contacts: