COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What if someone else picked up your prescription without your permission?
A viewer contacted NBC 4 and said someone else had picked up her prescription from a local pharmacy. She was left with nothing.
NBC 4’s Patrick Preston DIGS DEEPER into pharmacy policies.
Bonnie Stepp doesn't need extra headaches. A double amputee who recently was hospitalized with ulcers, she depends on the powerful pain medication Oxycodone to get through her day.
“It's so bad. You know? I can't sleep,” she said.
When Stepp's daughter went to a Walgreens pharmacy in West Columbus to pick up her pain pills, the family received some disturbing news.
“They said someone else had already picked them up,” Stepp said.
Stepp suspects a distant family member took advantage of Walgreens’ caregiver-verification process that requires only a patient's name and address to pick up another person's medication.
“How easy is it for someone to give an address,” she asked.
After filling out a police report, Stepp asked Walgreens to replace the 30-day supply. She said the corporate office never returned her calls so she came to NBC 4.
“I think that Walgreens should be responsible since they just handed the prescription out to someone without a signature,” Stepp said.
In a written statement, Walgreens said its verification procedures "follow state pharmacy regulations."
But NBC 4 checked with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and discovered there is no standard for verifying prescription pick-ups. It's up to each company to come up with its own policy.
Like Walgreens, CVS pharmacy only asks for a patient's name and address. The company said 60 percent of prescriptions are picked up by a relative or caregiver.
Kroger asks for name and either a date of birth or address.
Giant Eagle's pharmacy requires the name and date of birth.
The bottom line? Prescription pick-up thefts are rare, and the perpetrator would have to know the victim.
"I need the medication,” Stepp said.
Walgreens did not offer to replace Stepp's pain pills, saying they consider such thefts on a case-by-case basis.
Walgreens never got back to NBC 4 as far as its reasoning.
Now, only certain family members are allowed to pick up Stepp's medication and the store will require that they show identification.
Police continue to investigate the theft.
If you think there's a chance somebody might try to steal your prescription at the pick-up counter, you can tell the pharmacy in advance who you authorize to pick up your medication and to make them show ID.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
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