Issuing, obtaining, or attempting to obtain a false (forged, altered, or unauthorized) prescription to obtain drugs (narcotics, controlled substances)—or otherwise deceptively or fraudulently obtaining or attempting to obtain a prescription for a controlled substance—is a crime in every state, and in many states it is a felony offense punishable by jail or prison time. Some common forms of prescription fraud include:

(1) forging a prescription or increases the prescribed quantity of a dangerous drug in a prescription;

(2) issuing a prescription bearing a forged or fictitious signature;

(3) obtaining or attempting to obtain a dangerous drug by using a forged, fictitious, or altered prescription;

(4) obtaining or attempting to obtain a dangerous drug by means of a fictitious or fraudulent telephone call; or

(5) possessing a dangerous drug obtained by a forged, fictitious, or altered prescription or by means of a fictitious or fraudulent telephone call;

(6) obtaining or attempting to obtain a prescription from a health care provider without disclosing the existence of a current prescription for the same or similar drug or by another health care provider (doctor shopping).

Prescription drug fraud laws are usually located in a state’s statutes. Prescription drug fraud is also a crime under federal law. See 21 U.S. Code §843.

In Missouri, prescription fraud is considered a serious criminal offense. Under Missouri law, it is illegal to forge, alter, or fraudulently obtain a prescription for controlled substances. This includes actions such as forging a prescription, using a forged or fictitious signature, obtaining drugs through a forged or altered prescription, making fraudulent phone calls to acquire drugs, and possessing drugs obtained through these methods. Additionally, 'doctor shopping,' which involves obtaining prescriptions from multiple healthcare providers without disclosing existing prescriptions for similar medications, is also illegal. The specific statutes that address these actions can be found in the Missouri Revised Statutes, particularly in Chapter 195, which deals with drug regulations. Violations of these laws can result in felony charges, carrying penalties that may include imprisonment, fines, or both. Furthermore, prescription drug fraud is also a federal crime under 21 U.S. Code § 843, which means individuals may face federal as well as state charges for such actions.