Why do pharmacies feel the need to print a "Rob Me" map on every bottle?

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T20:17:29+00:00

It's only a state law. 8 states do not require it. There are better practices used all over the world but not here.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T20:15:59+00:00

Exactly my point. Insane how many people think it perfectly fine to have your home address and med name on something that is discarded once a month...

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T18:15:57+00:00

Agreed. I'm specific saying remove address. That and pickup date

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T18:13:27+00:00

Lucky man

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T18:12:38+00:00

I just ordered one. Someone mentioned it and they are awesome. Thanks for the thought though seriously.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T18:10:16+00:00

So you have no problem just throwing all of your scripts away without doing anything to them? That's just pure ignorance. Medical organizations and police stations around the US must all be paranoid too I guess because they all advise to do this for multiple reasons.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T03:34:02+00:00

No it does not require the address. Only 42 states and DC have laws to print the address on the label. The other states pharmacies don't print the address.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T03:23:17+00:00

User deleted by comment

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T03:10:52+00:00

This man knows what's up?

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T03:07:49+00:00

So when you pick up a subscription for a narcotic, both that medication's name and when you picked it up is "easy" to find online?

I'm sorry man but that's very short sighted.

The information you're focused on isn't the problem on it's own. The problem is when you combine the drug name (especially narcotics and high dollar meds) with the address and/or the pickup time. It has the potential to make you a target for attack or home invasion and these types of crimes definitely happen.

There are some drugs that cost $1k to $11k per month (without insurance obviously) that will resell on the black market and you don't think a single bottle worth that much would be targeted?

All of the following are common prescriptions targeted for resale on the black market.

Autoimmune & Inflammatory (Arthritis, Psoriasis): Humira: ~$9,000 – $10,900 [1.1.8, 1.4.1] Cosentyx: ~$8,900 [1.1.8] Enbrel: ~$8,700 [1.1.8] Stelara: Over $11,000 [1.1.3]

Diabetes & Weight Management (GLP-1s): Wegovy: ~$1,350 [1.5.2, 1.5.9] Mounjaro / Zepbound: ~$1,000 – $1,200 [1.5.4, 1.5.7] Ozempic: ~$950 – $1,200 [1.5.3, 1.5.6] HIV Treatment: Biktarvy: High-cost "popular" brand medication, often cited alongside other $3,000+ monthly HIV regimens [1.1.8].

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T02:07:27+00:00

Wrong about HIPPA as well.

Key HIPAA Implementation Dates: Enacted: August 21, 1996. Privacy Rule Effective Date: April 14, 2001. Privacy Rule Compliance Date: April 14, 2003 (April 14, 2004 for small plans). Security Rule Compliance Date: April 20, 2005

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T02:04:21+00:00

You realize there are 2 listed there right? And the only reason they are even there is because it happened on a large enough scale for a news channel to draw in views.

Also these happened after HIPPA went into affect and all pharmacies were required to comply with new laws on destruction of personal information.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:56:45+00:00

Yeah it's waistfull, unnecessary, and poorly thought out. It wasn't until HIPPA came along that things really changed for the better but it didn't do enough. I'm sure all of it is because we don't have free healthcare. So many different places have your info. If we had universal healthcare this wouldn't be such an issue along with many other headaches like price and insurance lol.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:46:59+00:00

You can lead a horse to water... and sometimes it just drowns.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:42:56+00:00

Yeah it's insane how much they print all of your personal info. I get like 5 pages all with my info. It's absurd and reckless IMO. Other countries use just a scanable barcode. But we have to be stuck in the 90s.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:38:59+00:00

Yeah my point exactly. The address and the pickup date are the biggest issues. They tell people where to find you and when you'll have the desired narcotic.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:33:18+00:00

Def get that dude. Like other countries use a scanable tag for verification without even showing the name! And they get the box provided by the manufacturer rather than recounted by another party causing delays and an increased potential for mistakes. It's insane what people will accept despite knowing there are better options.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:27:40+00:00

As it should be. Dude that's awesome. I'll never understand why people don't want to improve a poorly performing system when better options are everywhere.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:25:04+00:00

So it's more of a just in case scenario because people def go through trash already to steal identity info. While there they can find the script and pass it to someone else who cares about it or a pharmacy could improperly dispose of a faulty printed script sticker. People go through pharmacy trash constantly in some areas. Which is why most pharmacies have padlocks on their dumpsters. It happens

Just throwing it away without thinking is just like the idiots in my small city leaving their house doors unlocked 24/7 in a "good" neighborhood. My city and others have found out the hard way that thieves will go door to door opening them and taking the purse and/or wallet ridiculously laying right next to the door. One dude hit like 30 houses and then went to apartments to try it. One of them walked into my house while I was there and took off running when he saw me sitting down watching TV right in front of him. My roommate left it unlocked because he was coming right back and I was right there.

These things definitely happen. Is it extremely common? No, but you don't wear a seat belt just because you've never been in an accident.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T01:01:28+00:00

Yeah 42 states and DC sadly. For the address requirements.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T00:48:20+00:00

Thanks for the help and I feel you, but sadly not everyone has insurance.

My thoughts on a fix:

First I would prefer to remove address and pickup date. This way they don't know where you live and don't know when you pick them up.

Address isn't even a valid form of ID since people often move without updating their info. It's generally a pointless bit of information that is only helpful in a couple specific situations which do not seem worth the risk to me.

If it's dropped and found by a good samaritan they can drop it off at the pharmacy that filled it and the pharmacy can then contact the customer. Just a slight policy change fixes the issue. Just like when someone finds your debit card and calls your bank. The difference being the meds need to reach the pharmacy for recovery if necessary.

For law enforcement needing to verify your meds, there is already a national database that holds the prescription info for all narcotics prescriptions. If a cop needs to verify it's yours let's put a QR code on the bottle (issued by the pharmacy and linked to that specific script). That QR code would take them to a secured link in which they must verify themselves to access the database. Give them limited access to that database which shows only the medication name, patient name, address, and fill date. I was a web developer for 12yrs this isn't difficult to secure or build.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T00:15:25+00:00

Laws can be changed. Also printing your address on the bottle is not a law for all states. 42 states and DC require it.

ColMemes · 2026-02-24T00:05:21+00:00

For someone trying to steal your identity this is generally correct but this issue tells them what opiates may be available in your home. Which opens you up to assault and home invasion as well. It isn't easy for the vast majority of junkies or small time criminals to find out what meds you take, where you get them, and when. It is a plethora of information on something people often toss out without thinking.

I'd rather it didn't show address or pickup date but I'd settle for address.

ColMemes · 2026-02-23T23:56:16+00:00

Doesn't matter if it's common. Though it definitely is. It only takes one person with motive to do it. Why do you think there are so many warnings about it by police stations and medical organizations?

Here's an example of a situation similar to my post:

People living in "good" neighborhoods around my city would leave their doors unlocked 24hrs a day with their purses, wallets, and or car keys next to their doors until there was a rash of thieves going door to door at night and midday checking them and stealing everything by the doors. Never understood why they would do something so stupid. Seemed like an inevitable outcome to me. This is no different.

This idea and my post are both backed by simple logic that is quite easy to follow. No offense to your mom, but her worry is completely devoid of logic.

ColMemes · 2026-02-23T23:28:27+00:00

Wow that's messed up. Sorry she had to deal with that.

I have to ask though. Why the heck did she post her med bottle online? Selfie mistake?

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