AZ city's plan to curb drug fraud at pharmacies raises concerns

No one disputes prescription fraud is a growing concern, but several members of the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy and others question Peoria's proposed solution. The city in December proposed measures to curb painkiller-prescription fraud, including requiring pharmacists to take fingerprints before doling out OxyContin and other addictive medicines. If approved, Peoria would be the first Arizona city to implement such a requirement. Representatives from the pharmaceutical and retail industry and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona attended a meeting in which the city's attorney met with the pharmacy board. ACLU attorney Dan Pochoda said pharmacies would be "functioning as annexes to police stations for the collection of this private information."