Law enforcement: most drug theft from family members, friends

Prescription drug abuse has been a growing problem nationwide. Many states have created drug monitoring programs to keep track of patients and the numbers of prescriptions they fill. Missouri is the only state in the country without a program like this.

“It is obviously very easy in this state for drug abusers to go doctor-shopping and get many prescriptions filled throughout the area,” Lieutenant Clay Chism with Callaway County Sheriff’s Office said.

Callaway County law enforcement saw an increase in prescription drug theft in 2014. They’ve also seen kids going to school with prescription drugs on them.

“If a parent or grandparent has prescription drugs in the home, it’s so easy for a child to take 1, 2, 3, pills and take them to school.”

Law enforcement officials say most of the stolen pills are being taken by family or friends of the victim. Many of the thieves are acquainted with the person and know where the pills are kept.

Detectives with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department say with more people getting legitimate prescriptions for the drugs from doctors, more people are becoming addicted, creating a black market for the product.

“Prescription drugs are a popular item with thieves because they know there is always a market for them, or they use them for their own addiction,” Detective Tom O’Sullivan said.

It’s common for people to keep their medicine on their counter or dresser, but officers say meds should be treated the same way as cash, jewelry – or even firearms.

“They need to be secured. They need to be kept in locked areas and secured,” Chism said.

“I know most people probably have them sitting out on their dresser or in the medicine cabinet. But just understand there are people who will steal those items if they get a chance,” O’Sullivan said.

A local pharmacist says her team looks for “red flags” when filling prescriptions. She said some include the patient asking for cheaper prices, patients with out-of-state prescriptions, and patients looking to refill too soon.

Since Missouri is the only state without a monitoring program, if the pharmacy gets an out-of-state prescription, it will sometimes rely on the other state to input the information to make sure it is a legitimate prescription.