DrugBuyers.Com: Double-Dipping Clarification Please

Florida is one of the few "doctor shopping" states. Most states simply say, as the federal laws say, that you can't use fraud to obtain a prescription. The media made the phrase "doctor shopping" the catch phrase. There was another thread on this recently. Several of us conducted searches of "doctor shopping" in the FL,CA, and AZ state statute services and could not find the phrase used in any of the laws. Not saying it isn't there, but if it is, it is well hidden. FL does say in a few press releases from the AG that they are stepping up enforcement of doctor shopping, but this is just a phrase that covers a series of acts that constitute a crime as oppossed to a literal "you are under arrest for doctor shopping."

It is really about common sense. If you go to doctor "A" and they prescribe 30 hydro 5/500 for back pain, the next day you are still in pain and see doctor "B" who prescibes 60 norco 10/500, the next day you are still in pain so you go see doctor "C" who gives you Vicoprofin 7.5/200 and finally you go back to "A" on day four because you are still in pain and "A" gives you 60 hydro 5/500 but ups the frequency and quantity your supposed to take. If you told each doctor along the way what you were diagnosised with, who you saw, what they said/did, and names,#'s,directions of meds they gave you then you probably are safe(99.99%).

Same scenario, but this time you don't tell any of the doctors about the other doctors or their treatment. This could get you into trouble. Suppose the same scenario above, but this time all of the docs gave you the same meds, but each increased the quantity and decreased the intervals, is this ok, yes. So long as you tell each about the other.

This is based on CA law and Federal regs, you should check your own state for particulars. I can tell you that in the other thread several of us researched FL due to a debate and there was nothing found other than fraud issues as previously mentioned. Honestly, unless your talking about large quantities and/or long period of times that you are seeing multiple doctors for same problem I serious doubt your local LE has the time to deal with it, I know my department doesn't and FORGET about the feds touching it. You have to get into the thousands before our local resident DEA/Customs will even think about it.

Final thought- We often hear urban legends about people getting arrested for "doctor shopping." The last time around we put out a call for someone to send a link to a story about a person who was arrested for this anywhere in the U.S., with the provision that the person could not have used fradulent means to obtain any of the scripts. I am very interested in this topic and would appreciate anyone who has a link to such a story posting it or PMing me with it. I am NOT saying it doesn't happen, just saying that I haven't seen a verifiable case of it. The story always is "a friend of a friend or my uncle's mechanic, etc."

PS. The DEA, at last count had fewer than 200 diversion officers, the people who work this kind of stuff. They are currently, according to their website, trying to hire a minimum of 80-100 more this year alone. Most of their current diversion agents are spread too thin with issues like checking pharmacies, pharmaceutical plants, wholesalers, doctors, etc. Their stated intention is to put at least 60 of these new agents solely on internet pharmacies. With a one year hiring process, 14 week training program, and 6 month field training we can all relax for a little while, but the storm clouds are visible on the horizon...