Prescription fraud can take a variety of forms under the Criminal Code of Canada. In some cases, prescription fraud may involve a misrepresentation made by a patient to a pharmacist or doctor. In other cases, the fraud may involve dishonesty when obtaining drugs from a health care provider or engaging in “doctor shopping.”

If you have are currently facing a criminal charge for prescription fraud in Calgary, you need an experienced criminal defence lawyer on your side. The skilled prescription fraud defence lawyers at Bourdon Defence can represent your legal interests both in and out of court and can help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case.

Types of Drugs Involved

Some of the most common classifications of drugs involved in prescription fraud charges include depressants, stimulants, and opiates (usually used as powerful painkillers). Specific drugs that are typically involved in prescription fraud cases include:

• Oxycodone
• Darvocet
• Valium
• Hydrocodone
• Morphine

Doctor Shopping as Prescription Fraud

One type of prescription drug fraud in Calgary is doctor shopping. Doctor shopping occurs when a patient visits several doctors in different offices in order to obtain narcotics and deliberately fails to disclose that he or she has other prescriptions or is taking other medications. This type of activity is especially common among individuals who have an addiction to narcotics or opiates and have acquired a certain level of dependence on these drugs. Consequently, they require larger and larger doses to obtain the same level of relief (i.e., doses that are larger than what one doctor could legally prescribe to them).

Other Examples of Prescription Fraud in Calgary

Prescription fraud in Calgary goes well beyond engaging in doctor shopping to obtain higher doses of narcotics and other drugs. Prescription fraud may also include any one of the following:

• Using computers and other technology to alter existing prescriptions or to create new fake prescriptions
• Stealing a doctor’s pad (that is, a pad with the doctor’s letterhead on it) and writing out a fake or forged prescription
• Knowingly and intentionally altering the contents of a physician’s prescription, such as by changing the drug quantity

Defences to Prescription Fraud Charges

In order to beat a prescription fraud charge, you will need to successfully assert a valid legal defence in court. For example, you may be able to allege that police recovered the drug following a search or seizure that was unconstitutional or otherwise invalid. Alternatively, you may be able to allege that a search warrant that led to the discovery of the drug was invalid, improperly issued, or otherwise illegal. Even if you are not able to beat your prescription fraud charge, you may be eligible for drug court or some other diversion program. This is especially true if you are a first-time offender.

Contact a Prescription Fraud Defence Lawyer in Calgary Today

If you are facing a prescription fraud charge, you should contact the skilled legal team at Bourdon Defence. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a Calgary prescription fraud defence lawyer, please call us today at (403) 474-4143, or contact us online.