A pair of Texas residents face charges pertaining to prescription drug violations in a case that one prosecutor predicted could lead to changes in Texas prescription laws.

The two defendants, who allegedly took part in different cases, allegedly passed off dozens of forged prescriptions for tablets of hydrocodone, a narcotic.

The complaint says one of the defendants, a 57-year-old man, used 40 forged prescriptions to obtain more than 4,600 hydrocodone pills in the last quarter of 2010. Prosecutors said the prescriptions were written on the pad of a psychiatrist who said she did not prescribe the medication, alleging that blank prescriptions had been stolen from her office.

In all, that defendant allegedly turned in 80 prescriptions for controlled substances at 26 different pharmacies.

The other defendant, 33, is alleged to have submitted 56 fake prescriptions and received more than 6,000 hydrocodone pills over 12 months beginning in 2010. That defendant is alleged to have obtained prescriptions at 42 pharmacies. At least one of the doctors who supposedly wrote a prescription said he never wrote prescriptions for the man.

One Harris County assistant district attorney said lax prescription laws in Texas make it difficult to track prescription abusers. In addition, harsh laws in neighboring states have increased the number of people from elsewhere seeking to fill illegal prescriptions for controlled substances in Texas.

The attorney predicted that Texas would join other states in requiring electronic prescriptions, making it easier for pharmacists and doctors to track how many predictions are filled per patient.

The men are now likely facing harsh punishments if convicted, but it's important to remember that the allegations against them are merely allegations. Anyone who learns they are the target of an investigation should immediately consult with a criminal defense attorney, who can ensure that no legal rights are violated.

Source: Houston Chronicle, "2 charged with fraud in separate pill-mill cases," Carol Christian, Jan. 18, 2012