Alberta pharmacists are reporting an increase in attempts to forge prescriptions across the province [1].
This trend places additional pressure on healthcare providers and creates significant risks regarding the illicit distribution of controlled substances. As pharmacists work to verify the authenticity of every order, the rise in fraudulent activity threatens to slow patient care and increase the administrative burden on local clinics.
The Alberta College of Pharmacy has tracked a sharp rise in these incidents. According to data from the college, there were 149 forgery attempts reported last year [3].
The frequency of these attempts has accelerated in the current calendar year. The college said 132 forgery attempts have already been recorded so far this year [3].
Pharmacists in Alberta are now scrambling to keep up with the volume of reports [2]. The surge in fraudulent activity requires more rigorous verification processes to ensure that medications are only dispensed to legitimate patients with valid physician orders.
Because these attempts often target specific high-value or controlled medications, pharmacists must maintain high vigilance. The Alberta College of Pharmacy continues to monitor the situation as pharmacies across the province report a persistent plague of forged documents [3].
Efforts to combat this trend involve increased communication between pharmacies and prescribing physicians. By verifying the source of the prescription, pharmacists can prevent the illegal acquisition of drugs—a process that becomes more difficult as the sophistication of forgeries increases [2].
“149 forgery attempts reported last year”
The rapid approach to last year's total forgery count in only a fraction of the current year suggests a systemic increase in prescription fraud in Alberta. This trend may force a faster transition toward mandatory electronic prescribing systems to eliminate the vulnerabilities associated with paper-based or easily manipulated digital documents.
