Needle Laws

[SkyHog]

So...nothing ****es me off more than someone telling me a law is compelling behavior when it is actually a "policy." Just went around with a Pharmacist who insisted that both federal and state law requires a prescription for a needle.

I happen to know better on both accounts. Thankfully, I happen to be able to eloquently make someone feel like an idiot and sent them off to quote the law back to me. Best they could find was a statement on the package for the needle that says "To be used only upon the advice of a physician."

That's not a prescription requirement. Anyone with any sense of brain would know that an injectible medicine requires an injection method, and therefore is "advised by the physician."

Needles ordered, Pharmacist should know better. Ended with a simple statement: "If you had simply told me it was a store policy, I would have shaken my head and said 'That's a dumb policy' and moved on. But when you start claiming a law exists where it doesn't, I get angry. Do you even know why the state has refused to require a prescription? Its because we don't want drug addicts walking around the street sharing needles and spreading infectious disease. That is why it isn't illegal, and that is why your policy is against the public interest."

 

[Unit74]

Sooo...... You were buying needles w/o a prescription? I see Dr. Bruce is back. He might be able to help you

 

[SkyHog]

Sooo...... You were buying needles w/o a prescription? I see Dr. Bruce is back. He might be able to help you

Long story short, I have a prescription for 24ga needles, but they were sold out and wouldn't substitute without a new prescription. As I told the pharmacist, I don't care if it's a dull knife I just need a way to get the medicine into my muscle.

 

[Unit74]

You could always try another place.

 

[Clark1961]

Long story short, I have a prescription for 24ga needles, but they were sold out and wouldn't substitute without a new prescription. As I told the pharmacist, I don't care if it's a dull knife I just need a way to get the medicine into my muscle.

Walgreens? frequently **** poor customer service IMNSHO

edit: I can't type ****, so can I type pee? how 'bout urinate? micturate?

 

[SkyHog]

Walgreens? frequently **** poor customer service IMNSHO

edit: I can't type ****, so can I type pee? how 'bout urinate? micturate?

Yep. Walgreens. They have more "policies" than most places I have seen around "controlled substances," which just seems bizarre seeing how it is located in an area without a major drug abuse problem.

I suppose they'd rather see intravenous drug abusers sharing needles.

 

[Clark1961]

They have that policy so IV drug users don't visit their stores for needles. It's not the clientele they want.

The policy should allow substitution when the store could not supply the order on a non-control item. It has nothing to do with desired clientele. Of course such initiative is beyond the corporate mentality.

I use Walgreens because of their widespread locations but I pay for it with crappy service. Someday I'll get fed up with it and take my business elsewhere.

 

[Flymeariver]

I use Walgreens because of their widespread locations but I pay for it with crappy service. Someday I'll get fed up with it and take my business elsewhere.

I am the complete opposite: I got tired of the Walmart pharmacy and changed to Walgreens...much better but then again maybe it's just my location

 

[Clark1961]

I am the complete opposite: I got tired of the Walmart pharmacy and changed to Walgreens...much better but then again maybe it's just my location

I gave up on Walmart about six years ago and then went back to them while Walgreens and BCBS had their little lovers quarrel. I went back to Walgreens as soon as BCBS allowed it. There's one good tech at the Walgreens I use, the rest of the techs are real cadets - they have no clue on customer service and no one to lead the way apparently which means the pharmacists aren't much better. I've had service problems which ranged from not knowing when medication would be available or even if it was ordered from their supplier to the pharmacy closing an hour before posted time on a holiday. The early closure was just a little too suspicious (not a personal emergcency for the pharm) although I do know that it was probably rule driven when the pharmacist took off early.

 

[Tom-D]

You could always try another place.

Like the local farm and ranch supply.

 

[Henning]

So...nothing ****es me off more than someone telling me a law is compelling behavior when it is actually a "policy." Just went around with a Pharmacist who insisted that both federal and state law requires a prescription for a needle.

I happen to know better on both accounts. Thankfully, I happen to be able to eloquently make someone feel like an idiot and sent them off to quote the law back to me. Best they could find was a statement on the package for the needle that says "To be used only upon the advice of a physician."

That's not a prescription requirement. Anyone with any sense of brain would know that an injectible medicine requires an injection method, and therefore is "advised by the physician."

Needles ordered, Pharmacist should know better. Ended with a simple statement: "If you had simply told me it was a store policy, I would have shaken my head and said 'That's a dumb policy' and moved on. But when you start claiming a law exists where it doesn't, I get angry. Do you even know why the state has refused to require a prescription? Its because we don't want drug addicts walking around the street sharing needles and spreading infectious disease. That is why it isn't illegal, and that is why your policy is against the public interest."

If you go to the vet supply, you buy it all no questions asked, as much as you want, cheap as dirt. You get your antibiotics cheap and without a prescription either.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Just tell them you have an insulin injection scheduled in 30 minutes and if you don't have a needle by then you will die. (not true, but it might get their attention!)

 

[FORANE]

There are Federally funded needle exchange programs which provide free syringes to drug users. Granted, funding has waxed and waned with politicians choosing to allow or deny its funding.
At the same time, the federal hospital accrediting organization has mandated that hospitals must secure all syringes at all times. As a result syringes get locked away. This leads to many occasions of syringes not being readily available to me in emergencies within my own department. Go figure.

 

[Norman]

I've given up on all the chain pharmacies. They all suck and give poor customer service. There are still some neighborhood pharmacies but you have to search them out. I once had RiteAid give me the wrong medicine and they wouldn't make it right.

 

[BigBadLou]

The WalGreens closest to our home is pretty useless in every aspect. May it be needles, prescriptions or simple cough syrup. The reason being that somebody decided to use this location as a training grounds for green employees. Hey, now I get their name: WalGreens!!
We have been going to a location farther away to get better service from educated and well-trained employees. Too bad the HQ decided to turn that location into training grounds too!

OP, I feel your pain. Dumb people are everywhere. As if they bred faster than smart folks!! [faking a silent awe here]

 

[Henning]

The WalGreens closest to our home is pretty useless in every aspect. May it be needles, prescriptions or simple cough syrup. The reason being that somebody decided to use this location as a training grounds for green employees. Hey, now I get their name: WalGreens!!
We have been going to a location farther away to get better service from educated and well-trained employees. Too bad the HQ decided to turn that location into training grounds too!

OP, I feel your pain. Dumb people are everywhere. As if they bred faster than smart folks!! [faking a silent awe here]

What makes you think that turnover at Walgreens isn't high enough that they are all training grounds?

 

[BigBadLou]

What makes you think that turnover at Walgreens isn't high enough that they are all training grounds?

Because the farther location had stable employees, we knew the pharmacist's name and she even spoke English.
(for clarity: wife takes enough medication that she visits the pharmacy practically every week and she notices any changes in the staff - yet she can never remember the CTAF at our local airport )

Nevertheless: whether training grounds or high turnover, the result is the same: horrendous service due to inexperienced and inefficient employees.

Now add the cheesy periodical "Be well" words over the PA and I am starting to see Sandra Bullock and Stallone and wonder about the three shells again ...