You were at the end of your prescription for an opioid, and you remembered you had another on hand. When you looked at it, you realized that the doctor hadn’t signed or dated it. It was a blank document other than the prescription itself.
You have your doctor’s signature from a work excuse, and you know it would be easier to forge his signature compared to trying to get into his busy office. Should you, though?
Don’t take the chance of committing a crime
Signing another person’s name on any kind of legal document or professional document could end up getting you into trouble, but that’s particularly true in the case of prescription forgery. In many states, the act of presenting a forged document to another party is illegal. It’s called uttering, and it is a crime to alter or forge any prescription before giving it to another party.
Uttering and forgery are both felonies under federal law. Depending on the type of forgery and where it takes place, the individual may face a low-level charge, a misdemeanor, or a higher-level felony.
In any case involving forgery or uttering, there’s a risk of going to prison. The typical term is between six months and 20 years, which is why forging a prescription or altering it isn’t worth the risk. Even good forgeries often get caught when pharmacists call to verify the legitimacy of the prescription.
Our site has more on what to do if you’re facing charges. If you are seeking drugs you’re not supposed to have or have forged your doctor’s name, you could face federal charges.
