Pharmacies all around Canada experienced drug theft throughout the past ten years as a result of numerous criminals selling narcotics drugs. Theft events from various regions of Canada are reported in newspapers or on news channels every other day. Despite taking all the required actions, including contacting the police, assisting with the investigation, and informing insurance companies of the loss, the tension persisted as pharmacists and pharmacy employees began to feel terrified, frightened, and worried. The police departments of several provinces and the College of Pharmacy were compelled to take the required actions to lower the quantity of drugs on the streets and the number of robberies.
The Rise of Pharmacy Robberies in Canada
The number of robberies in each province prior to the introduction of time-delay pharmacy safes is seen in the graph below. The Ontario area had the most robberies, followed by Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
(Wilson, 2024)
From BC to Nationwide: The Evolution of Time-Delay Safes in Canada
Following extensive study and brainstorming, the Vancouver Police Department and the College of Pharmacy of British Columbia launched the DrugSafeBC program in September 2015, requiring all pharmacies to keep drugs in a time-delay pharmacy safe. This concept was inspired by Walgreens Pharmacy in Washington, which was dealing with a comparable issue.(Time-delay safes across BC to reduce pharmacy robberies 2018) Other provinces began requiring the use of time-delay pharmacy safes after British Columbia's installation received good feedback. Alberta was the second jurisdiction to do so, followed by Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The graph below illustrates the success that each province had.
(Time-delayed safes for securing narcotics now fully implemented in all Ontario community pharmacies, 2024)
NarcSafe: Leading the Charge in Pharmacy Security
Several measures contributed to reducing pharmacy robberies, but the most impactful was the time-delay pharmacy safe, which was provided by many companies like NarcSafe, TorontoSafe, and VancouverSafe to name a few. NarcSafe gained 70% of the market in just two years by offering excellent customer service to more than 500 customers and a high-quality time-delay pharmacy safe with bottle holders, portable drawers, an extra handle, and a lock. Many people from all over Canada are thanking the safety companies for helping them and one of them is an independent pharmacy owner in Manitoba who says, “Theft of narcotics from pharmacies poses a serious threat to pharmacy workers, patients, and the public. This ‘all-in’ strategy, coupled with proactive public awareness campaigns, mirrors the successful implementation seen in other jurisdictions. Creating safer spaces protects patients and pharmacy team members from the harm associated with robberies and addresses prescription drug misuse and the opioid crisis by securing access to controlled medication.” (College of Pharmacists of Manitoba, 2024)
The implementation of time-delay pharmacy safes across Canada has significantly reduced pharmacy robberies, addressing the narcotics looting crisis. Initially launched in British Columbia, this initiative expanded nationwide, with all provinces seeing a decline in thefts. The collaboration between pharmacy organizations, law enforcement, and safe manufacturers such as NarcSafe and TorontoSafe enhanced security for staff and customers while limiting narcotic availability on the streets. The success of time-delay pharmacy safes is a testament to their effectiveness in creating safer work environments. These safes not only secure controlled substances but also play a critical role in combating the opioid crisis.
Protect your pharmacy, your team, and your community with trusted solutions like the time-delay pharmacy safe from NarcSafe. Learn more about enhancing security and combating narcotics theft by visiting NarcSafe today” – Team NarcSafe
References:-
- Pharmacy safe for Narcotics Storage. Narcsafe. (n.d.). https://narcsafe.ca/
- Wilson, K. (2024, April 10). Ontario pharmacies are fending off robbers by using time-delayed safes to Lock Up Drugs. NOW Toronto. https://nowtoronto.com/news/ontario-pharmacies-are-using-time-delayed-safes-to-lock-up-drugs/
- Time-delay safes across BC to reduce pharmacy robberies. College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. (2018, March 8). https://www.bcpharmacists.org/news/time-delay-safes-across-bc-reduce-pharmacy-robberies?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Time-delayed safes for securing narcotics now fully implemented in all ontario community pharmacies. OACP. (2024, April 10). https://www.oacp.ca/en/news/time-delayed-safes-for-securing-narcotics-now-fully-implemented-in-all-ontario-community-pharmacies.aspx
- College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. (2024, June 25). Time-delayed safes information for patients and the public. https://cphm.ca/time-delayed-safes-information-for-patients-and-the-public/#:~:text=As%20of%20January%2031%2C%202024,delayed%20safe%20is%20in%20use