Doctor Shopping

[rxabuser235]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Alabama

I've been an Ambien user for several years. Over the last year, I've started using too much and needed more than a "months worth" every month, so I've seen about 5 or 6 different doctors at different places to get scripts, a couple times with overlapping visits. I knew this was wrong in Insurance's eyes, so I haven't filed all the visits against insurance, but I've only recently started really reading about it and found out how illegal it is. I haven't been arrested and I don't know that I'm even being looked at - would there be a benefit to my talking to a lawyer before anything happens to me? What kind of penalty is there for something like this if I've never been arrested for anything? I realize I'm hooked on it and need help, but that's another story...

[OhMy]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Alabama

I've been an Ambien user for several years. Over the last year, I've started using too much and needed more than a "months worth" every month, so I've seen about 5 or 6 different doctors at different places to get scripts, a couple times with overlapping visits. I knew this was wrong in Insurance's eyes, so I haven't filed all the visits against insurance, but I've only recently started really reading about it and found out how illegal it is. I haven't been arrested and I don't know that I'm even being looked at - would there be a benefit to my talking to a lawyer before anything happens to me? What kind of penalty is there for something like this if I've never been arrested for anything? I realize I'm hooked on it and need help, but that's another story...

You seem like a decent person I will say that much.

Just so long as you are going to the doctors , getting an RX and having it filled it would be a hard case to prove.

Just so long as you are not involved in insurance fraud as you stated that you are NOT. I think you should just clean up your act and take the prescribed dose.

If you are not filling all the Rx's at the same chain of drug stores and you are not using insurance I do not see how you can have a problem.

HOWEVER, now is the time to clean yourself up and just take the prescribed dose. If you are NOT selling the pills to others, which is my main concern then you should be ok. If you are selling the pills then you will have problems for sure.

[cyjeff]

Isn't this the kind of prescribed drug use that Rush Limbaugh got into such trouble for not too long ago?

Anyway... now would be an excellent opportunity to talk to one of your doctors about rehab. If you get the help NOW, you won't have to explain to the nice judge later.

[rxabuser235]

Thanks for the info and the concern, I appreciate it.

Is the "doctor shopping" the only illegal part? Is it also illegal to fill the scripts too often? For example, if someone sees 3 doctors over 3 months, gets scripts from all w/ refills, is it also illegal to fill the scripts more often than once a month? The reason I've done this in the past is becuase I travel a lot, sometimes overseas for several weeks.

BTW, this is a really informative service, I've gotten a lot out of it.