What type of drug investigation is usually dispatched as forgery but isn't a forgery by definition?

The type of drug investigation that is typically dispatched as forgery but is not classified as forgery by definition is prescription fraud investigations. These investigations involve the misuse or fraudulent acquisition of prescription medications, where individuals may forge prescriptions, use someone else's prescription, or manipulate prescription practices to obtain drugs unlawfully.

Prescription fraud is distinct from traditional forgery in that it primarily deals with the illegal procurement of controlled substances rather than creating a false document for the purpose of deception. The term “forgery” often implies the creation of a false document, whereas prescription fraud involves misrepresentation or deceit related to the prescription process itself without necessarily generating a counterfeit document.

In contrast, counterfeit drug investigations focus on the production and distribution of fake medications, typically involving illegal manufacturing and distribution networks. Distribution investigations and drug trafficking investigations pertain more comprehensively to the sale and distribution of controlled substances but do not specifically center on the fraudulent misuse of prescriptions like prescription fraud does. Thus, while prescription fraud may initially be dispatched under the banner of forgery due to its deceptive nature, it holds specific characteristics that distinguish it from typical forgery cases.