Data Points: Insights and Trends in Rx Printing

The very real dangers of fraud and drug substitution cause the pharmaceutical industry to be among the most regulated in the nation. As a first line of defense, the Rx packaging industry is constantly evolving to stay a few steps ahead of criminals. Keeping an eye on trends in Rx printing can help keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands. Some of the risks of unchecked access to Rx packaging are detailed below, along with what the industry is doing to stay on top of nefarious activity.

The Risks

Whether it’s a person getting his or her hands on prescription drugs or using authentic-looking labeling to sell them, criminals are creative when it comes to Rx theft and fraud. The federal government requires strict labeling in order to limit a person’s ability to replicate packaging, which is why some criminals turn to tampering. Here are two ways Rx labels can be misused if not properly secured against tampering:

• Repackaging – As regulated substances, prescription drugs can be hot items on the black market. Of course, that doesn’t mean that what a criminal is peddling is the actual drug or that it was ever purchased legally. Oftentimes, labels are removed and placed on fake drugs or stolen goods.
• Returns – Attempting to use genuine labeling on unopened drug containers in order to return them for refund or replacement is another common fraudulent tactic.

Tamper-Resistant and Anti-Counterfeit Labeling

The Rx printing and packaging industry has long grappled with how to make packaging that is tamper-proof, and it has had great success — but it has its limits. Just as it is important to keep criminals out of Rx packaging, so is making it evident to anyone else that they were there in the first place. Tamper evidence technology gives pharmacists, public safety officers and other medical professionals a way to be on constant lookout for anything fishy. Here are a few ways Rx packagers and printers are making that possible:

• Watermarks are one of the most basic forms of anti-fraud and anti-tampering labeling options. Watermarks are built into the paper at an early stage prior to printing, making it almost impossible to replicate at a consumer level. The watermark makes it easy to identify authentic Rx packaging at a glance.
• Destructible labels are made from a film that is just strong enough to place but not strong enough to withstand removal. If a person attempts to pull off a destructible label, it will break into tiny unusable pieces.
• Self-destructing paper is similar to destructible labels, but instead of a film, the labels are made from weak and brittle paper that will crumble if a person tries to remove it from an Rx package. The downside of this option compared to destructible labels is that its inherent weakness is it is hard to work with and hard to create.
• Security cuts are specially placed cuts designed to prevent the clean removal of a label. Because of the various angles of these cuts, if a person tries to remove the label from any direction, the label will inevitably fall apart.
• Void labels take a classic approach to tamper-evident packaging. Void labels are made with the word VOID inside of them. Any attempt to remove the labels reveals the word and red-flags it in plain sight.
• Holographic labels are becoming more popular because they are virtually impossible to replicate. In essence, these labels include a customizable holographic foil layer with a very specific image seen when tilted. Further, some printers offer the option of a holographic image that cannot be removed with a label. Instead, the holographic layer remains on the product.
• UV paper is almost impossible to replicate and makes it very easy to see that a label is genuine. By incorporating UV light-sensitive fibers, the label can be embedded with authenticity markings only visible under a UV light.
• Transfer labels are made specially to leave behind the text if they are ever removed from Rx packaging. They work by way of a release coat on the film label. When removed, the film cannot hold onto all of the print, making the removed label unusable.
• Coding done by way of inkjet, laser and electrolytic etching is a reliable way to print labels with very specific information that cannot be replicated. When coupled with an anti-removal technique, this all but eliminates a criminal’s ability to reconstruct a damaged label.

As criminals get more creative, expect the Rx packaging and printing industries to keep the pace, or remain one step ahead. By using a combination of the printing options listed above, the pharmaceuticals industry can better protect itself and the general public.